title: Effect of taurine on attenuating chemotherapy-induced adverse effects in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of oral taurine supplementation on the incidence of chemotherapy-induced adverse drug reactions during chemotherapy in young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty young adult (aged over 16 years) with ALL, at the beginning of maintenance course of their chemotherapy, were recruited to the study. The study population was randomized in a double blind manner to receive either taurine or placebo. Life quality and adverse drug reactions were assessed using questionnaire. Blood cell count, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), serum bilirubin, transaminases, urea, and creatinine concentrations were evaluated. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of total participants, 43.8% were female and 56.3% were male. The mean age was 19.16 ± 1.95 years (range: 16-23 years). The results indicated that the levels of white blood cells were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in taurine treated group, but other hematological values did not differ significantly in either group. Taurine administration improved liver and kidney functions, indicated by decline of serum bilirubin, transaminases, urea, and creatinine, respectively in comparison to the controls (P < 0.05). Moreover, taurine significantly reduced serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion our results indicated that taurine supplementation could be a protection against chemotherapy-induced toxicities probably by its antioxidant capacity. Present study showed effectiveness of taurineon the chemotherapy-related toxicities and some of the complications during the maintenance period of treatment following coadministration in young adults with ALL.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Islambulchilar
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Asvadi
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sanaat
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esfahani
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Oncology Research Center; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sattari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013654:Taurine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013654:Taurine