Effect of Tart Cherry on Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced Arthralgia (AIA) in Nonmetastatic Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer Patients: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial.
- 2022-01
- Clinical breast cancer 22(1)
- Mina Shenouda
- Renee Copley
- Toni Pacioles
- Yehuda Lebowicz
- Muhammad Jamil
- Sutoidem Akpanudo
- Maria Tria Tirona
- PubMed: 34275765
- DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2021.06.007
Study Design
- Type
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- Sample size
- n = 48
- Population
- 48 nonmetastatic breast-cancer patients with Aromatase Inhibitor induced Arthralgia
- Methods
- Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial; TC concentrate [50 tart cherries] vs. placebo [syrup] 1:1, 1 Oz in 8 Oz water daily for 6 weeks
- Blinding
- Double-blind
- Duration
- 6 weeks
- Funding
- Unclear
Background
Aromatase Inhibitor induced Arthralgia (AIA) can cause noncompliance leading to decreased breast-cancer survival. Effective interventions for AIA are limited. Tart cherry (TC) showed beneficial effect on musculoskeletal pain. 48 patients (Pts) randomized to TC versus placebo over 6 weeks, TC (23pts) had 34.7% mean pain decrease versus 1.4% in Placebo (25pts). TC can improve AIA in nonmetastatic breast-cancer patients.Methods
Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. Eligible patients with NMHPBC on AI for at least 4 weeks were randomized to TC concentrate [50 tart cherries] vs. placebo (P) [syrup] in 1:1 model. Patients instructed to consume 1 Oz of concentrate in 8 Oz water daily for 6 weeks, and document their pain intensity at baseline, weekly and at study completion in a diary using Visual Analog Scale (VAS), with 0 mm indicating no pain, and 100 mm indicating highest pain.Results
Sixty patients were enrolled. Two patients did not complete the study due to diarrhea, and 10 patients were noncompliant. Forty-eight patients were included in the final analysis. TC group (23 pts) had 34.7% mean decrease in pain compared to 1.4% in P group (25 pts). This difference was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U Test, P = .034).Conclusions
Tart cherry can significantly improve AIA in nonmetastatic breast cancer patient.Research Insights
TC group (23 pts) had 34.7% mean decrease in pain compared to 1.4% in P group (25 pts). This difference was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U Test, P = .034).
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Moderate
- Dose
- 1 Oz concentrate (equivalent to 50 tart cherries) daily
Adverse Events Reported
Two patients did not complete the study due to diarrhea, and 10 patients were noncompliant.
- Finding
- Reported
Two patients did not complete the study due to diarrhea
- Finding
- Reported