title: Nutritional Supplement Based on Zinc, Prebiotics, Probiotics and Vitamins to Prevent Radiation-related Gastrointestinal Disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present phase II study aimed to evaluate the tolerance and safety of Dixentil, a nutritional supplement based on zinc with the addition of prebiotics (galacto-oligosaccharides), tyndalized probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. casei) and vitamins B1, B2 and B6, and nicotinamide), given as prophylaxis to patients undergoing pelvic radiotherapy and its efficacy in the prevention and reduction of radiation-related gastrointestinal disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty consecutive patients who were candidates for pelvic radiotherapy received Dixentil before starting and during radiotherapy. The primary end-point was to evaluate the safety and tolerance of Dixentil. Secondary end-points were incidence and severity of radiation-induced diarrhea and number of patients who discontinued radiotherapy because of diarrhea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Radiation-induced enteritis occurred in 17 patients, grade I and grade II diarrhea was documented in 14 and 3 patients respectively; no grade III or IV diarrhea was observed. Radiotherapy was discontinued due to treatment-induced enteritis only in two patients for 6 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of Dixentil is an easy, safe, and feasible approach to protect patients against the risk of radiation-induced diarrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy scartoni_daniele@libero.it.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scartoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Isacco
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Desideri
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Cataldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Brina
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Furfaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonomo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simontacchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Livi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D056692:Prebiotics; D014815:Vitamins; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Probiotic; colorectal cancer; endometrial cancer; prostate cancer