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Preserving Physical Function in Older Adults With Cancer: Impact of an Optimizing Nutrition Intervention Applied Before and After Surgery

Preserving Physical Function in Older Adults With Cancer: Impact of an Optimizing Nutrition Intervention Applied Before and After Surgery

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05912257
Acronym
NOSH
Enrollment
188
Registered
2023-06-22
Start date
2024-05-01
Completion date
2027-06-30
Last updated
2026-05-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cancer

Keywords

Surgery, Perioperative Nutrition, Older Adults

Brief summary

In this pragmatic clinical trial, the investigators will study older Veterans approaching surgery for gastrointestinal or genitourinary cancer who are at high risk for a marked decline in their physical function. The investigators will test a multi-targeted nutrition regimen high in protein and other key nutrients and including resistance exercise, administered 2-8 weeks prior to surgery and for 24 weeks after discharge from surgery, with the goal of protecting physical function and improving physiologic, metabolic, and patient-centered outcomes. The findings of this study will promote a better intervention to compensate for the high nutritional demands of cancer and its treatment and lead to stronger, more rapid physical recoveries and better quality of life for older adults with moderate to advanced cancer- a group that has rarely been included in long-term nutrition studies. In addition to providing direct benefits to Veterans, the study may also benefit the VA by decreasing demands on the health care system via hastening the recovery of physical function.

Detailed description

The overall objective of this study is to administer the nutrition optimization of senior health (NOSH) intervention in biphasic intervals and compare it to a typically recommended nutrition regimen (Typical Regimen) for (1) physical function, (2) physiologic and metabolic outcomes; and (3) Veteran-centered outcomes. The central hypothesis is that NOSH will improve physical function. The investigators also predict improvements in physiologic, metabolic and Veteran-centered outcomes. The investigators seek an optimal intervention to alleviate symptom burden and improve function, health, and QoL for older cancer survivors, and the long-term goal is to confirm and implement this intervention. The primary aim is to evaluate the efficacy of a multi-targeted NOSH intervention on physical function. Based on preliminary data, the investigators' working hypothesis is that the NOSH intervention will result in improved physical function before surgery and after surgery relative to the (Typical Regimen).

Interventions

BEHAVIORALStructured perioperative nutrition and exercise

Nutrition counseling by a RD and prescribed a eucaloric diet with protein intake of 1.5 g/kg/d and at least 30 g high quality protein per meal. They will be provided 30 grams of high quality protein twice a day, Hydroxymethylbutyrate, and vitamin D3 and multi-vitamin. Participants will attend nutrition and exercise group classes for 2-8 weeks prior to their scheduled surgery. Following following discharge home, participants will be instructed to resume group classes and protein, HMB, vitamin-D and MVS regimen, and exercise classes will resume when cleared by surgical team.

nutrition counseling by study Registered Dietitian (RD) and prescribed a eucaloric diet with protein intake of 1.0 g/kg/d and a one a day multivitamin/multimineral supplement. They will be counseled on exercising three times per week and given access to exercise videos. Following following discharge home, participants will be instructed to resume protein recommendations and MVS, and exercise recommendations will resume when cleared by surgical team.

Sponsors

VA Office of Research and Development
Lead SponsorFED

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
55 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male and Female Veterans * Stage I, II, III cancer of the bladder, colon, kidney, liver, pancreas, stomach, rectum, prostate, endometrium, ovaries, and uterus * Surgery 2-8 weeks from consent * Age \> 55 years * Age-normal renal function * English speaking * Able to record dietary intake or has a proxy who can record dietary intake * Willing and able to be randomized to either intervention group

Exclusion criteria

* Stage IV cancer diagnosis * Glomerular filtration rates (GFR) less than 45 mL/min * Neurological conditions causing functional impairments, including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and permanent disability due to stroke * Class III-IV congestive heart failure * Refractory cachexia - medical condition that affects ability to increase muscle mass (e.g., cachexia) defined as 10% weight loss in 10 months, 5% weight loss in 6 months or 2% weight loss over any period plus body mass index 20 kg/m2 AND Life expectancy 9 months * Active treatment for another cancer site * Body weight \>450 lbs * Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c 9%) * Recent diagnosis of thyroid disease or untreated thyroid disease * Inability to complete physical function assessment * Severe dietary restrictions * On chemotherapy drug Sorafenib

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
6-Minute Walk Changebaseline, within 72 hours before surgery, 30-days post-op, 12-weeks following post-op visit, 24 weeks following post-op visitDistance walked in 6 minute.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Health-related QoL (QLQ-C30)baseline, within 72 hours before surgery, 30-days post-op, 12-weeks following post-op visit, 24 weeks following post-op visitQLQ-C30 is a patient reported outcome measure designed to assess the functional health (physical, role, emotional, social, cognitive), symptom burden (fatigue, pain, nausea/vomiting, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, dyspnea), and health-related quality of life of adults with cancer. Raw scores are transformed to a 0-100 scale, with a higher score representing better functioning/quality of life and greater symptom burden.
Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA)baseline, within 72 hours before surgery, 30-days post-op, 12-weeks following post-op visit, 24 weeks following post-op visitPG-SGA is a hands-on assessment of weight, muscle and fat mass, food intake, and nutrition impact symptoms117 using a global rating nutritional diagnosis (A=well nourished, B = moderate/suspected malnutrition, or C=severely malnourished) and a continuous numerical score (1 to 30 - with higher scores representing greater nutritional risk) for intervention triage. The continuous numerical score allows for comparison of changes in nutritional status over short duration of time.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTKathryn N Starr, PhD
kathryn.starr@duke.edu(919) 286-0411
CONTACTJosephine C Mcwhorter
josephine.mcwhorter@va.gov(919) 286-0411
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKathryn N. Starr, PhD

Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 21, 2026