Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39861376›Full record

Trial reportNutrients2025

Effect of a Novel Food Rich in Miraculin on the Intestinal Microbiome of Malnourished Patients with Cancer and Dysgeusia.

Julio Plaza-Diaz, Marco Brandimonte-Hernández, Bricia López-Plaza, Francisco Javier Ruiz-Ojeda, Ana Isabel Álvarez-Mercado, Lucía Arcos-Castellanos, Jaime Feliú-Batlle, Thomas Hummel, Samara Palma-Milla, Angel Gil

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Nutrients, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Julio Plaza-DiazDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-5171-9408
Marco Brandimonte-HernándezDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.ORCID 0009-0001-5836-5008
Bricia López-PlazaFood, Nutrition and Health Platform, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28046 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-9310-1545
Francisco Javier Ruiz-OjedaDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-4452-0855
Ana Isabel Álvarez-MercadoInstituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.GRANADA, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Granada, 18014 Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-8476-9970
Lucía Arcos-CastellanosFood, Nutrition and Health Platform, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28046 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-7977-0301
Jaime Feliú-BatlleOncology Department, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research-IdiPAZ, Hospital Universitario La Paz, 28029 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4867-1420
Thomas HummelSmell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-9713-0183
Samara Palma-MillaFood, Nutrition and Health Platform, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28046 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-0187-1495
Angel GilDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain.ORCID 0000-0001-7663-0939

Funding

Center for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) Cervera Transfer R&D Projects. Ref. IDI-20210622. (Science and Education Ministry, Spain).
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesDysgeusia contributes to malnutrition and worsens the quality of life of patients with cancer. Despite the different strategies, there is no effective treatment for patients suffering from taste disorders provided by the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, we developed a novel strategy for reducing side effects in cancer patients by providing a novel food supplement with the taste-modifying glycoprotein miraculin, which is approved by the European Union, as an adjuvant to medical-nutritional therapy.

methodsA pilot randomized, parallel, triple-blind, and placebo-controlled intervention clinical trial was carried out in which 31 malnourished patients with cancer and dysgeusia receiving antineoplastic treatment were randomized into three arms-standard dose of dried miracle berries (DMBs) (150 mg DMB/tablet), high dose of DMBs (300 mg DMB/tablet), or placebo (300 mg freeze-dried strawberry)-for three months. Patients consumed a DMB or placebo tablet before each main meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Using stool samples from patients with cancer, we analyzed the intestinal microbiome via nanopore methodology.

resultsWe detected differences in the relative abundances of genera

conclusionsThe combination of DMB intake with nutritional treatment and individualized dietary guidance results in positive changes in the intestinal microbiome of patients with cancer and dysgeusia. Changes observed in the intestinal microbiome might contribute to maintaining an appropriate immune response in cancer patients. As the current pilot study included a limited number of participants, further clinical trials on a larger group of patients are needed to draw robust findings.

Indexed as

Dietary SupplementsDysgeusiaGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMalnutritionNeoplasmsAdultAgedAntineoplastic AgentsFecesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsTasteAntineoplastic Agentscancerdried miracle berriesdysgeusiaintestinal microbiomemalnutritionneoplasmstaste disorders

Identifiers

PMID39861376
PMCPMC11767858

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.