title: Effect of supplements: Probiotics and probiotic plus honey on blood cell counts and serum IgA in patients receiving pelvic radiotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiotherapy is frequently used in treatment approaches of pelvic malignancies. Nevertheless, it has some known systemic effects on blood cells and the immune system that possibly results in their susceptibility to infection. Probiotics are live microbial food ingredients that provide a health advantage to the consumer. Honey has prebiotic properties. The aim of this clinical trial was to investigate probable effects of probiotic or probiotics plus honey on blood cell counts and serum IgA levels in patients receiving pelvic radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven adult patients with pelvic cancer were enrolled. Patients were randomized to receive either: (1) Probiotic capsules (including: Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, and Streptococcus thermophiles) (n = 22), (2) probiotic capsules plus honey (n = 21) or (3) placebo capsules (n = 24) all for 6 weeks. Blood and serum samples were collected for one week before radiotherapy and 24-72 h after the end of radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  White blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), platelet counts, and serum IgA level were not significantly changed in patients taking probiotic (alone or plus honey) during pelvic radiotherapy. The mean decrease in RBC count was 0.52, 0.18, and 0.23 × 10(6) cells/μL, WBC count was 2.3, 1.21, and 1.34 × 10(3) cells/μL and platelet count was, 57.6, 53.3, and 66.35 × 10(3) cells/μL for the probiotic, probiotic plus honey, and placebo groups, respectively. The mean decrease of serum IgA was 22.53, 29.94, and 40.73 mg/dL for the probiotic, probiotic plus honey, and placebo groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed nonsignificant effect of probiotics may be in favor of local effects of this product in the gut rather than systemic effects, however, as a trend toward a benefit was indicated, further studies are necessary in order to extract effects of probiotics or probiotic plus honey on hematologic and immunologic parameters in patients receiving pelvic radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hajar-Alsadat
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Mansouri-Tehrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabbani-Khorasgani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sayyed Mohsen
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mokarian
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahdavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roayaei
keywords: Blood cell counts; honey; pelvic cancer; prebiotic; probiotic; radiotherapy; serum IgA