***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: BACKGROUND A pilot study ( NCT00316563 ) to determine if delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) can improve taste and smell ( chemosensory ) perception as well as appetite , caloric intake , and quality of life ( QOL ) for cancer patients with chemosensory alterations . PATIENTS AND METHODS Adult advanced cancer patients , with poor appetite and chemosensory alterations , were recruited from two sites and r and omized in a double-blinded manner to receive either THC ( 2.5 mg , Marinol ( ® ) ; Solvay Pharma Inc. , n = 24 ) or placebo oral capsules ( n = 22 ) twice daily for 18 days . Twenty-one patients completed the trial . At baseline and posttreatment , patients completed a panel of patient-reported outcomes : Taste and Smell Survey , 3-day food record , appetite and macronutrient preference assessment s , QOL question naire , and an interview . RESULTS THC and placebo groups were comparable at baseline . Compared with placebo , THC-treated patients reported improved ( P = 0.026 ) and enhanced ( P < 0.001 ) chemosensory perception and food ' tasted better ' ( P = 0.04 ) . Premeal appetite ( P = 0.05 ) and proportion of calories consumed as protein increased compared with placebo ( P = 0.008 ) . THC-treated patients reported increased quality of sleep ( P = 0.025 ) and relaxation ( P = 0.045 ) . QOL scores and total caloric intake were improved in both THC and placebo groups . CONCLUSIONS THC may be useful in the palliation of chemosensory alterations and to improve food enjoyment for cancer patients Aim : N-3 fatty acids , especially eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ) , may possess anticachectic properties . This trial compared a protein and energy dense supplement enriched with n-3 fatty acids and antioxidants ( experimental : E ) with an isocaloric isonitrogenous control supplement ( C ) for their effects on weight , lean body mass ( LBM ) , dietary intake , and quality of life in cachectic patients with advanced pancreatic cancer . Methods : A total of 200 patients ( 95 E ; 105 C ) were r and omised to consume two cans/day of the E or C supplement ( 480 ml , 620 kcal , 32 g protein ± 2.2 g EPA ) for eight weeks in a multicentre , r and omised , double blind trial . Results : At enrolment , patients ’ mean rate of weight loss was 3.3 kg/month . Intake of the supplements ( E or C ) was below the recommended dose ( 2 cans/day ) and averaged 1.4 cans/day . Over eight weeks , patients in both groups stopped losing weight ( Δ weight E : −0.25 kg/month versus C : −0.37 kg/month ; p = 0.74 ) and LBM ( Δ LBM E : + 0.27 kg/month versus C : + 0.12 kg/month ; p = 0.88 ) to an equal degree ( change from baseline E and C , p<0.001 ) . In view of evident non-compliance in both E and C groups , correlation analyses were undertaken to examine for potential dose-response relationships . E patients demonstrated significant correlations between their supplement intake and weight gain ( r = 0.50 , p<0.001 ) and increase in LBM ( r = 0.33 , p = 0.036 ) . Such correlations were not statistically significant in C patients . The relationship of supplement intake with change in LBM was significantly different between E and C patients ( p = 0.043 ) . Increased plasma EPA levels in the E group were associated with weight and LBM gain ( r = 0.50 , p<0.001 ; r = 0.51 , p = 0.001 ) . Weight gain was associated with improved quality of life ( p<0.01 ) only in the E group . Conclusion : Intention to treat group comparisons indicated that at the mean dose taken , enrichment with n-3 fatty acids did not provide a therapeutic advantage and that both supplements were equally effective in arresting weight loss . Post hoc dose-response analysis suggests that if taken in sufficient quantity , only the n-3 fatty acid enriched energy and protein dense supplement results in net gain of weight , lean tissue , and improved quality of life . Further trials are required to examine the potential role of n-3 enriched supplements in the treatment of cancer cachexia BACKGROUND Acute gastrointestinal upset occurs in approximately 80 % of patients undergoing radiotherapy for pelvic cancers . Underlying changes relate to denudation of the mucosal layer which renders the small intestine vulnerable to additional damage from proteolytic enzymes and bile acids . Severe acute bowel symptoms may predispose to progressive fibrotic and ischaemic changes . Elemental diet given during treatment may reduce acute and chronic bowel symptoms induced by pelvic radiotherapy . METHODS This study aim ed to assess compliance with elemental diet during pelvic radiotherapy .  Patients with gynaecological , urological or rectal malignancy undergoing radical or adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy  were r and omised to one of five groups . Each group was assigned a target quantity of three different elemental sip feeds ( Group 1 , 20 % , Group 2 , 50 % , Group 3 , 75 % of calorie requirements taken as E028 extra liquid ; Group 4 , 50 % of calorie requirements taken as E028 extra powder ; Group 5 , 50 % of calorie requirements taken as Emsogen powder ) . Compliance was assessed using a diary card and weekly assessment . Statistical analyses were conducted on an intention to treat basis . RESULTS Fifty patients ( 44 female , six male ) mean age 58 yr ( 95 % CI 55 - 61 ) , were recruited to the study ( 24 endometrial , 17 cervical , 7 rectal , 1 vulval and 1 bladder carcinoma ) .  Mean weight  at baseline was 74.5 kg ( 95 % CI 69 - 80 ) and this did not change during treatment . Full compliance was achieved in three patients , all from Group 1 . By week 5 , only 46 % of patients were consuming elemental diet . Post hoc analysis of variance with repeated measures indicated that there were no significant differences in volume of elemental diet consumed between groups ( P = 0.937 ) . There was a significant inverse linear relationship between intake of elemental diet and time ( P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Different formulations of elemental diet do not influence compliance . Patients are unlikely to be able to consume more than one-third of their calorie requirements in the form of an elemental sip feed . Further investigation is warranted to determine if intervention with this volume of elemental diet is beneficial BACKGROUND Although liquid supplements are formulated to provide extra energy , minerals , vitamins and proteins , much of the success of supplementation depends upon the acceptability of the product and the ability of the patients to take large volumes over a period of time . OBJECTIVE This study was set up to evaluate the acceptability by haematological cancer patients of 3 commercially available nutritional supplements . DESIGN A population of 32 haematological cancer patients with reduced food intakes ( less than 50 % of calorie requirements by Harrist Benedict formula ) was enrolled .  Supplements were r and omly assigned to each patient . Patients could try the drinks over 2 days period . They were asked to rate the acceptability of supplement , rating the product with a visual scale from 1 to 5 points with five parameters ( color , taste , smell , texture , and temperature ) . RESULTS Ten patients received first ONS ( oral nutritional supplements ) , 12 second ONS , and 10 third ONS . No epidemiological differences were detected among three groups . Total calorie and macronutrient consumption improved with all supplements . Average values of color , taste , smell , temperature and texture were similar on three oral nutritional supplements ( ONS ) . Analogic scale was analyze in a categoric way with frequencies , too . Frequencies of 1 and 2 points ( very good and good responses ) with taste were better with second ONS ( 85 % ; p < 0.05 ) than first ONS ( 50 % ) and third ONS ( 55.5 % ) . Frequencies with smell were better with second ONS ( 83.3 % ; p < 0.05 ) than first ( 55.5 % ) and third ONS ( 62.5 % ) . Frequencies with texture were higher in first ONS ( 90 % ; p < 0.05 ) and second ONS ( 100 % ; p < 0.05 ) than third ONS ( 66.7 % ) . Temperature and color frequencies were similar in all ONS . CONCLUSIONS Oral nutritional supplements had different acceptability in haematological cancer patients .  Taste , smell and texture could be better in some ONS in these patients INTRODUCTION Oral nutritional supplements may have a role in the management of weight loss in patients with cancer . Information on preference for different types of nutritional supplements and the influence of taste changes and chemotherapy is limited . AIMS AND METHODS This study aim ed , in patients with gastrointestinal ( GI ) cancer , to determine the short-term preference for commonly used nutritional supplements compared with controls , to examine whether preference is altered by chemotherapy and to assess the reproducibility of taste assessment s conducted using a Visual Analogue Scale ( VAS ) .  Patients with GI cancer and controls were asked to rate the acceptability of three oral nutritional supplements on a VAS before starting chemotherapy and after 6 weeks of chemotherapy . Supplements were presented in a r and om order in sealed containers and subjects were blinded to the type of product . One supplement was repeated at r and om within each set ( four cups ) to assess the reproducibility of responses . RESULTS Sixty patients and 63 controls were included in the study , 47 patients and 47 controls were available for follow-up . Before the start of chemotherapy , patients had a higher mean preference for Calshake  ( 5.9 cm ) than Ensure plus ( 5.1 cm ) and Fortijuce ( 3.2 cm ) ( P=0.025 and P<0.001 ) . Calshake was the most preferred supplement in the control group ( mean 6.6 cm ) , with no significant differences in preferences between patients and controls . There were no changes in preference for patients after 6 weeks of chemotherapy . The results for the control group similarly showed no change after 6 weeks . No significant differences were found between scores assigned to the supplement repeated in the r and om order for any product at either timepoint . DISCUSSION Patients with GI cancers prefer the taste of fresh milk-based supplements and short-term preferences are not changed by chemotherapy . Preferences are similar between patients with GI cancers and people without cancer . A VAS is a reliable tool to assess taste preference . Further studies are needed to assess the patient compliance over longer periods and the reasons for non-compliance with prescriptions for nutritional supplements BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The beneficial effect of eicosapentaenoic acid in cancer patients is widely described especially in relation to its role in tumour cachexia . The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of administration of a new oral powder supplement enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid compared to a st and ard liquid supplement in cancer patients . PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 61 cancer patients , aged more than 18 years , were r and omized to receive during a month a bonus of 600 kcal/ day to their regular diet with an oral powder supplement enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid ( 1.5 g ) ( RSI ) or with a st and ard liquid supplement ( RE ) . The following data were collected at baseline and after one month : the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment ( pg-SGA ) , anthropometric measurements ( skin folds , circumferences and bioimpedance ) , dietary parameters ( 3-day food record ) , biochemical and inflammatory parameters ( basic biochemistry , cytokines , prealbumin and Reactive C Protein ) . Quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36 question naire . At the end , scales were used to asses sensory perception , tolerance and satiety induced by the products and motivation to eat . RESULTS 40 patients completed the study . After intervention , anthropometric parameters do not change and prealbumin values increased significantly in both groups ( RSI 16.11 ± 5.66 mg/dl vs. 19.81 ± 6.75 mg/dl p < 0.05 and RE 6.13 ± 16.55 mg/dl vs. 19.03 ± 5.47 mg / dl p < 0.05 ) . RSI group significantly decreased interferon gamma ( INF-γ ) values ( 0.99 ± 0.95 vs. 0.65 ± 0.92 pg/ml , p < 0.05 ) . In contrast , RE group increased INF-γ after intervention ( 1.62 ± 1 27 vs. 2.2 ± 3.19 pg/ml , p < 0.05 ) . There were no significant differences in hunger , appetite , satiety and intake capacity in both groups . The SF-36 scores improved in both groups . CONCLUSIONS Supplementation based on an oral powder formula enriched with 1.5 g EPA during one month in cancer patients improved certain inflam 
    Output:
    
Results Studies comparing sensory preferences for SFP  of cancer patients with those of a control group suggested that the liking for SFP by cancer patients differs from healthy participants .
Patient heterogeneity in site and stage of tumor , variation in study method ologies , and type of treatment complicated a conclusion regarding the effects of cancer treatment and taste changes on taste preferences .
However , some general results were observed among the studies , such as the preference for fresh milk-based supplements when compared with other supplement types .