Mediterranean Diet and Naltrexone/Bupropion Treatment for Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Breast Cancer Survivors and Non-Cancer Participants: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

The objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to investigate the combined effect of a Mediterranean diet and naltrexone/bupropion treatment on body weight, metabolic parameters, and quality of life in overweight or obese breast cancer survivors.

METHODS:

Forty-four breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to receive the Mediterranean diet plus naltrexone/bupropion medication (breast cancer survivor MeDiet+NB group) or the Mediterranean diet alone (breast cancer survivor MeDiet-only group). Twenty-eight age-matched non-cancer patients were instructed to consume the Mediterranean diet plus naltrexone/bupropion medication (non-cancer MeDiet+NB group). After the 8-week intervention, changes in body weight, metabolic parameters, nutrient intake, and quality of life of the three groups were assessed.

RESULTS:

Significant weight loss of 2.8 kg was noted for the breast cancer survivor MeDiet+NB group, 1.8 kg for the breast cancer survivor MeDiet-only group, and 2.5 kg for the non-cancer MeDiet+NB group after 8 weeks (P < 0.05 versus baseline by Wilcoxon's signed-rank test). All three groups also exhibited significantly lower fasting glucose, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance levels (P < 0.05). Quality of life as assessed by self-reported questionnaires showed improvement in all participants (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences of changes in body weights, metabolic parameters, and quality of life among the three groups or between the MeDiet+NB and MeDiet-only groups.

CONCLUSION:

We found that the Mediterranean diet, with or without naltrexone/bupropion treatment, facilitates weight loss, improves metabolic parameters, and increases quality of life. The combination of the Mediterranean diet with naltrexone/bupropion treatment did not produce superior changes when compared to the Mediterranean diet alone.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

This trial was retrospectively registered on 10 July 2018 as NCT03581630 at ClinicalTrials.gov (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03581630).

• Authors: A-Ra Cho, Won-Jun Choi, Yu-Jin Kwon, Hye Sun Lee, Sung Gwe Ahn, Ji-Won Lee
• Journal: Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy (Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes) Vol. 13 Pg. 3325-3335 ( 2020) ISSN: 1178-7007 [Print] New Zealand
• PMID: 33061494 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2020 Cho et al.