Dietary interventions in cancer: a systematic review of all randomized controlled trials
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all 1,000 screened works →1 of 3 models called this metaresearch. This work is contested: it sits on the field's empirical boundary, and whether it counts depends on which model you asked. It is one of the 51 works in the disagreement dossier.
Systematic review characterizing all dietary intervention RCTs in cancer by sample size, endpoint choice, and design; the reported findings are about the state of the trial literature, though a clinical conclusion is also drawn.
The systematic review answers a clinical question about dietary interventions in cancer rather than studying synthesis methodology.
Systematic review of dietary RCTs in cancer answers a clinical effectiveness question; uses synthesis method rather than studying the method.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prior systematic reviews addressing the impact of diet on cancer outcomes have focused on specific dietary interventions. In this systematic review, we assessed all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating dietary interventions for cancer patients, examining the range of interventions, endpoints, patient populations, and results. METHODS: This systematic review identified all RCTs conducted before January 2023 testing dietary interventions in patients with cancer. Assessed outcomes included quality of life, functional outcomes, clinical cancer measurements (eg, progression-free survival, response rates), overall survival, and translational endpoints (eg, inflammatory markers). RESULTS: In total, 252 RCTs were identified involving 31 067 patients. The median sample size was 71 (interquartile range 41 to 118), and 80 (32%) studies had a sample size greater than 100. Most trials (n = 184, 73%) were conducted in the adjuvant setting. Weight or body composition and translational endpoints were the most common primary endpoints (n = 64, 25%; n = 52, 21%, respectively). Direct cancer measurements and overall survival were primary endpoints in 20 (8%) and 7 (3%) studies, respectively. Eight trials with a primary endpoint of cancer measurement (40%) met their endpoint. Large trials in colon (n = 1429), breast (n = 3088), and prostate cancer (n = 478) each showed no effect of dietary interventions on endpoints measuring cancer. CONCLUSION: Most RCTs of dietary interventions in cancer are small and measure nonclinical endpoints. Although only a small number of large RCTs have been conducted to date, these trials have not shown an improvement in cancer outcomes. Currently, there is limited evidence to support dietary interventions as a therapeutic tool in cancer care.
Stored with the screening record, where it is evidence for the labels above.
The record
- Venue
- JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute
- Topic
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Field
- Medicine
- Canadian institutions
- Queen's University
- Funders
- —
- Keywords
- MedicineCancerClinical endpointInterquartile rangeRandomized controlled trialInternal medicinePsychological interventionClinical trialSystematic reviewProstate cancerOncologyMEDLINE
- Has abstract in OpenAlex
- yes