We're building a better ClinicalTrials.gov. Check it out and tell us what you think!
Working…
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov Menu

The Effects of Honey on Febrile Neutropenia in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02272673
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : October 23, 2014
Last Update Posted : October 24, 2014
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
mamdouh abdulmaksoud abdulrhman, Ain Shams University

Study Description
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Groups and Cohorts Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Brief Summary:
Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common and serious side effect of chemotherapy. Current management of FN is expensive and may induce side effects. Honey is a natural substance produced by honeybees. It possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects. In addition, honey is not expensive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 12-week honey consumption on children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) particularly with regards of FN episodes. This randomized crossover clinical trial included 40 patients of both sexes, aged 2.5 to 10 years. They were randomized into two equal groups [intervention to control (I/C) and control to intervention (C/I)]. The dietary intervention was 12-week honey consumption in a dose of 2.5g//kg body weight per dose twice weekly.

Condition or disease Intervention/treatment
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Dietary Supplement: Honey

Detailed Description:

This was a crossover randomized study that took place at the Children Hospital of Ain Shams University-Cairo-Egypt, from March 2011 to August 2013. The patients were recruited from the Hematology-Oncology Clinic of the hospital. All patients > 2 years of age with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), treated according to the Modified CCG 1991 protocol for standard- risk ALL and on maintenance therapy, were candidates for this study. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and patients who had febrile neutropenia at the time enrollment were excluded from the study.

A crossover design (two 12-week intervention periods) was used to measure honey effects. The subjects were randomized into two equal groups (group A or control to intervention [C/I] group and group B or intervention to control [I/C] group). A computer-generated list of random numbers was used to allocate participants equally in each group. Since there was no previous similar study, a pre-specified sample size was not determined. The subjects in the I/C group consumed 2 ml (2.5 g) honey/kg body weight/dose twice weekly in the first 12-week period (period 1), while the subjects in the C/I group did not receive honey as a control in the period 1. After period 1, the subjects of each group exchanged their protocol for the following 12-week period (period 2). To the investigators knowledge, laboratory tests for measurement of levels of honey in blood or tissues are not yet available. Therefore, to ensure compliance to honey intake, each patient consumed the calculated dose of honey under visual supervision of the researcher. Each calculated dose of honey was dissolved in water and then ingested by the patient. The honey used in this study was an Egyptian clover honey of a carbohydrate content of 78.4 g/100 g, pH of 3.7 and a moisture content of 18.8%. The physicochemical characteristics of the honey used in the study are detailed in supplementary table 1 (17).

The primary outcome measure was febrile neutropenia in terms of frequency and duration of hospital stay. The secondary outcome measures were hemoglobin (Hb) level, total leucocytic count (TLC), absolute neutrophil count (NE) and platelet count (PLT). Blood count was performed for all patients on a weekly basis. All measures were analyzed in participants at baseline (0 week), the end of the 12th week (crossover) and the end of the 24th week (end point).

All patients who developed FN during the study were admitted to the hospital and received an empirical combination of intravenous antibiotic therapy consisting of piperacillin (200mg/kg/24hr, divided q 6hr) and amikacin (20mg/kg q24hr).

An informed consent was obtained from at least one parent of each child before enrollment, and the study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Pediatric Department of Ain Shams University Hospitals.

Study Design
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Groups and Cohorts Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Layout table for study information
Study Type : Observational
Actual Enrollment : 40 participants
Observational Model: Case-Crossover
Time Perspective: Prospective
Official Title: The Effect of Honey on Episodes of Febrile Neutropenia in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Randomized Crossover Open- Labeled Pilot Study
Study Start Date : March 2011
Actual Primary Completion Date : August 2013
Actual Study Completion Date : September 2014

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine


Groups and Cohorts
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Groups and Cohorts Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Intervention Details:
  • Dietary Supplement: Honey
    The subjects in the I/C group consumed 2 ml (2.5 g) honey/kg body weight/dose twice weekly in the first 12-week period (period 1), while the subjects in the C/I group did not receive honey as a control in the period 1. After period 1, the subjects of each group exchanged their protocol for the following 12-week period (period 2).

Outcome Measures
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Groups and Cohorts Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Febrile neutropenia: composite (febrile neutropenia in terms of frequency and duration of hospital stay) [ Time Frame: 3 months ]
    The measure is composite (febrile neutropenia in terms of frequency and duration of hospital stay)


Eligibility Criteria
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Groups and Cohorts Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.


Layout table for eligibility information
Ages Eligible for Study:   2 Years to 12 Years   (Child)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Sampling Method:   Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
All patients > 2 years of age with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), treated according to the Modified CCG 1991 protocol for standard- risk ALL and on maintenance therapy
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All patients > 2 years of age with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), treated according to the Modified CCG 1991 protocol for standard- risk ALL and on maintenance therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and patients who had febrile neutropenia at the time enrollment were excluded from the study.
Contacts and Locations
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Groups and Cohorts Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02272673


Locations
Layout table for location information
Egypt
Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University
Cairo, Egypt
Sponsors and Collaborators
Ain Shams University
Investigators
Layout table for investigator information
Principal Investigator: Ahmad A Hamed, Dr Pediatric department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University
Principal Investigator: Sahar A Mohamed, Dr Faculty of Medicine, El-Azhar University
Principal Investigator: Nouran A Hassanen, M.B.B.Ch Pediatric department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University
More Information
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Groups and Cohorts Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Layout table for additonal information
Responsible Party: mamdouh abdulmaksoud abdulrhman, professor of pediatrics, Ain Shams University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02272673    
Other Study ID Numbers: 1/2011
First Posted: October 23, 2014    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: October 24, 2014
Last Verified: October 2014
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Layout table for MeSH terms
Leukemia
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma
Leukemia, Lymphoid
Neutropenia
Febrile Neutropenia
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Neoplasms
Lymphoproliferative Disorders
 Lymphatic Diseases
Immunoproliferative Disorders
Immune System Diseases
Agranulocytosis
Leukopenia
Leukocyte Disorders
Hematologic Diseases