Perilla Oil and Bifidobacterium for Alleviating Fear of Cancer Recurrence (POB study)

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K20171
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59040:Nutrition science and health science-related
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Okubo Ryo 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 病院 臨床研究・教育研修部門, 室長 (00803470)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: プロバイオティクス / オメガ3系脂肪酸 / がん再発不安 / 臨床試験 / 乳がん

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fear of cancer recurrence is the greatest unmet need in life after having cancer, but no safe and widely available treatment options have been established. In this study, we investigated the effects of consumption of perilla oil and Bifidobacterium-containing foods on psychological distress, including fear of cancer recurrence, among female breast cancer survivors after completion of chemotherapy in a randomized controlled trial. 48 participants were randomized into 3 groups (Perilla oil + Bifidobacterium group, Bifidobacterium group, and treatment as usual group). The baseline profile of gut microbiota and the changes in the gut microbiota after treatment were also examined, leading to the development of individualized nutritional interventions to overcome the fear of cancer recurrence according to the condition of each cancer patient.

Free Research Field

臨床精神医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

がん再発不安については、薬物療法や精神療法が研究されているが、副作用と治療者の確保が社会実装の際に大きな課題となる。一方、オメガ3系脂肪酸、プロバイオティクスともに誰もが豊富な食経験を有する安全な栄養成分であり、サプリメントによる社会実装が容易であり、本研究の成果は社会に広く影響を与える可能性が高い。