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Taurine attenuates chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

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Abstract

Taurine has multiple physiological activities and it is decreased by chemotherapy. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of oral taurine supplementation on the incidence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Forty young patients aged over 16 (range: 16–23 years) suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all receiving same chemotherapy regimen) were recruited for the study at the beginning of maintenance course of their chemotherapy. The study population was randomized in a double-blind manner to receive either taurine or placebo (2 g per day orally, divided into two doses, taken 6 h after chemotherapeutic agents) for 6 months. Life quality and adverse effects including nausea and vomiting, taste and smell alterations, and weariness were assessed using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test. Of 40 participants, 32 finished the study (14 female and 18 male; mean age 19.2 ± 1.9 years). Four treatment and four placebo arm patients discontinued: one immigrated from the province, one died during the study, and six refused to continue. The results indicated that taurine-supplemented patients reported a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in chemotherapy-induced nausea and/or vomiting after taking taurine during study. Taurine significantly improved chemotherapy-induced taste and smell alterations (P < 0.05). Moreover, taurine significantly reduced weariness compared to placebo group (P < 0.05). This study showed that taurine co-administration decreased chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting during the maintenance therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the authorities of Hematology and Oncology Research Center of Tabriz University of Medical Science, for their financial support. We also thank the patients and their families, who were participated in this trial. The nurses, laboratory, and other staffs of Shahid Ghazi Hospital of Tabriz are also acknowledged for their cooperation. This article is based on a thesis submitted for (No. 49) in the faculty of pharmacy of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Tabriz, Iran.

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There is no conflict of interest.

Informed consent

The authors state that all patients gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran

    Mina Islambulchilar

  2. Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Zohreh Sanaat, Ali Esfahani & Mohammadreza Sattari

  3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mina Islambulchilar, Iraj Asvadi & Mohammadreza Sattari

  4. Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mina Islambulchilar

  5. Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Mohammadreza Sattari

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  1. Mina Islambulchilar
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Correspondence to Mohammadreza Sattari.

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Islambulchilar, M., Asvadi, I., Sanaat, Z. et al. Taurine attenuates chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Amino Acids 47, 101–109 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1840-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-014-1840-x

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