The Effect of Soy Nut Compared to Cowpea Nut on Body Weight, Blood Cells, Inflammatory Markers and Chemotherapy Complications in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

No previous studies were found to examine the effect of soy as a whole food on patients with leukemia. The present randomized controlled clinical trial studied the effect of soy nut on children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were in the maintenance phase of chemotherapy. The eligible patients were randomized to receive 30 g/day soy or cowpea nut powder for 12 weeks. Dietary intake, physical activity, anthropometric measurements, complete blood count, serum albumin, serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) as well as chemotherapy side effects were assessed at the start and the end of the study. In total 29 and 27 children completed the study (aged 6.34 ± 2.44 and 5.85 ± 2.35 years) in soy and cowpea nut groups, respectively. The total energy and protein intake, and physical activity as well as body weight, body mass index, number of red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and fatigue were significantly improved in the soy nut group compared to patients who consumed cowpea nut (P < 0.05). Soy nut intake might improve the nutritional status, anemia, and fatigue in children with ALL. Studies targeting blood cell fractions and disease recurrence are highly recommended.

Acknowledgments

This study was extracted from a thesis for MSc degree in nutrition. Authors would like to thank the research council of Nutrition and Food Security Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences for the financial and scientific support of the present study, respectively. We also thank all the study participants and their parents for their attendance in the study and their close cooperation.

Disclosure statement

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest regarding the publication of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The present clinical trial was financially supported by the chancellery for research, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Notes on contributors

Narges Ramezani

ASA, NR, and AN conceived the study. NR, SY, AM, and NR recruited the participants and followed them. ASA and NR conducted the statistical analyses. Data interpretation was done by ASA, NR, and AM. All authors contributed to the study conception, design and drafting of the manuscript.

Alireza Moafi

ASA, NR, and AN conceived the study. NR, SY, AM, and NR recruited the participants and followed them. ASA and NR conducted the statistical analyses. Data interpretation was done by ASA, NR, and AM. All authors contributed to the study conception, design and drafting of the manuscript.

Azadeh Nadjarzadeh

ASA, NR, and AN conceived the study. NR, SY, AM, and NR recruited the participants and followed them. ASA and NR conducted the statistical analyses. Data interpretation was done by ASA, NR, and AM. All authors contributed to the study conception, design and drafting of the manuscript.

Saeed Yousefian

ASA, NR, and AN conceived the study. NR, SY, AM, and NR recruited the participants and followed them. ASA and NR conducted the statistical analyses. Data interpretation was done by ASA, NR, and AM. All authors contributed to the study conception, design and drafting of the manuscript.

Nahid Reisi

ASA, NR, and AN conceived the study. NR, SY, AM, and NR recruited the participants and followed them. ASA and NR conducted the statistical analyses. Data interpretation was done by ASA, NR, and AM. All authors contributed to the study conception, design and drafting of the manuscript.

Amin Salehi-Abargouei

ASA, NR, and AN conceived the study. NR, SY, AM, and NR recruited the participants and followed them. ASA and NR conducted the statistical analyses. Data interpretation was done by ASA, NR, and AM. All authors contributed to the study conception, design and drafting of the manuscript.