Spotlight on Clinical Trials
The clinical trials below are among the many NCCAM-sponsored trials that were recruiting, or planning to start recruitment soon, at press time. Others can be seen on our site, or you can inquire with the NCCAM Clearinghouse.
A CAM Approach for Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that causes the digestive tract to become inflamed. This condition can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, bleeding, and weight loss, as well as many complications. Medications, lifestyle changes, and surgery help in minimizing CD flare-ups, but long-term management of the disorder is a challenge. This trial is studying whether two dietary approaches are beneficial and safe for the management of CD, and, if so, how the effects occur:
- A special diet that combines recommendations from a number of CAM practices
- A prebiotic supplement. [Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of beneficial microorganisms already in the colon.—Editor]
An earlier pilot study found these treatments to be acceptable and well tolerated, and two-thirds of the participants had improvement in their symptoms.
Principal investigator: Ece Mutlu, M.D., M.B.A., Rush University Medical Center, Chicago
More information: Information can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov relating to ID NCT00343642.
A Chinese Practice in Survivors of Breast Cancer
A University of Arizona study is examining the effects of qi gong on quality of life (including fatigue and cognitive issues) in a group of survivors of stage II or III breast cancer. Qi gong is a practice of gentle movements and breath training that originated in traditional Chinese medicine and is intended to enhance what is believed to be the flow of vital energy, or qi, in that medical system. It is being compared to Restful Movement, a series of stretches and movements that is based on the Lebed Method, a therapeutic exercise program.
Principal investigator: Linda Larkey, Ph.D., Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Phoenix
More information: Information can be found at crisp.cit.nih.gov relating to grant number 5U01AT002706-02.
