Table 2.
Changes in Inflammatory Biomarkers and QOL Scores.a
| N= 20 | Day 0 | 2 Weeks | 4 Weeks | P Value (Day 0 to 2 Weeks) | P Value (Day 0 to 4 Weeks) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline laboratory data (mean ± SEM) | WBC (/µL) | 6135 (±787) | — | 6195 (±704) | — | 1.00 |
| Hb (g/dL) | 11.2 (±0.4) | — | 11.4 (±0.4) | — | .98 | |
| Plt (×104/µL) | 23.1 (±3.0) | — | 24.9 (±3.9) | — | .68 | |
| Neu (%) | 58.2 (±3.2) | — | 56.1 (±3.2) | — | .79 | |
| Lym (%) | 29.5 (±3.2) | — | 31.0 (±2.4) | — | .80 | |
| N/L | 2.7 (±0.4) | — | 2.3 (±0.4) | — | .67 | |
| High-sensitivity CRP (ng/mL) | 20 019 (±7408) | 21 494 (±8626) | 17 738 (±8337) | .81 | .90 | |
| Subsets of lymphocytes (%) (mean ± SEM) | T cell (CD3+) | 68.8 (±2.9) | — | 64.7 (±3.2) | — | .08 |
| CD4+ T | 41.4 (±2.4) | — | 37.6 (±2.4) | — | .10 | |
| CD8+ T | 23.2 (±1.0) | — | 24.5 (±1.7) | — | .25 | |
| CD4 naïve T | 32.5 (±3.0) | — | 31.5 (±3.2) | — | .37 | |
| CD4 memory T | 67.5 (±3.0) | — | 68.5 (±3.2) | — | .37 | |
| Treg (CD4+CD25+) | 5.6 (±0.7) | — | 7.1 (±1.0) | — | .24 | |
| CD8+CD28+ T | 58.5 (±4.4) | — | 51.5 (±3.8) | — | .01b | |
| B cell (CD20+) | 11.3 (±2.2) | — | 10.9 (±2.6) | — | .47 | |
| NK cell | 21.2 (±3.0) | — | 25.1 (±2.9) | — | .11 | |
| NK subset, CD56+CD16- | 3.7 (±0.6) | — | 4.2 (±0.8) | — | .31 | |
| NK subset, CD56+CD16+ | 15.9 (±2.5) | — | 19.3 (±2.7) | — | .10 | |
| NK subset, CD56-CD16+ | 1.5 (±0.5) | — | 1.5 (±0.3) | — | .92 | |
| NK (CD56+CD16+) Perforin+Granzyme B+ | 89.8 (±3.4) | — | 89.8 (±2.6) | — | .62 | |
| NK (CD56+CD16-) Perforin+Granzyme B+ | 63.0 (±5.4) | — | 59.0 (±5.1) | — | .28 | |
| Cytokines (pg/mL), (mean ± SEM) | IL-1β | 358.2 (±62.7) | 189.9 (±32.0) | 273.4 (±75.2) | .01b | .16 |
| IL-6 | 2198.6 (±564.3) | 1522.8 (±367.0) | 1624.1 (±301.3) | .02b | .23 | |
| TNF-α | 4819.4 (±772.0) | 3257.2 (±648.6) | 3985.1 (±548.6) | .03b | .08 | |
| IFN-γ | 2060.4 (±285.0) | 1762.8 (±265.3) | 2048.3 (±271.2) | .19 | .65 | |
| IL-2 | 396.5 (±123.8) | 292.3 (±91.2) | 421.4 (±136.4) | .05 | .65 | |
| IL-17 | 81.0 (±16.7) | 92.7 (±21.3) | 101 (±20.0) | .51 | .64 | |
| IL-23 | 138.4 (±19.5) | 97.8 (±15.7) | 100.9 (±18.0) | .06 | .24 | |
| QOL score (mean ± SEM) | ||||||
| Global health status/QoL | 58.3 (±5.3) | 53.5 (±6.8) | 58.3 (±4.8) | .25 | .92 | |
| Functional scales (higher is better) | Physical functioning | 79.7 (±4.5) | 76.8 (±5.4) | 77.7 (±5.0) | .44 | .40 |
| Role functioning | 76.7 (±6.3) | 76.5 (±6.4) | 72.5 (±6.5) | 1.00 | .39 | |
| Emotional functioning | 82.9 (±3.1) | 78.5 (±4.5) | 80.8 (±5.0) | .63 | .91 | |
| Cognitive functioning | 83.3 (±4.5) | 75.4 (±5.9) | 80.0 (±5.2) | .29 | .62 | |
| Social functioning | 86.7 (±4.3) | 76.3 (±6.9) | 81.7 (±5.5) | .19 | .27 | |
| Symptom scales (higher is worse) | Fatigue | 35.0 (±4.7) | 38.6 (±6.3) | 38.6 (±5.5) | .93 | .40 |
| Nausea and vomiting | 6.7 (±2.5) | 4.4 (±2.8) | 8.3 (±5.3) | .50 | 1.00 | |
| Pain | 24.2 (±6.1) | 20.4 (±6.1) | 21.7 (±6.2) | .33 | 1.00 | |
| Dyspnea | 20.0 (±6.1) | 19.3 (±6.4) | 18.3 (±6.2) | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
| Insomnia | 22.8 (±7.7) | 19.3 (±5.9) | 21.7 (±6.5) | 1.00 | .78 | |
| Appetite loss | 25.0 (±6.3) | 29.8 (±6.7) | 23.3 (±6.0) | .53 | .77 | |
| Constipation | 13.3 (±5.6) | 12.3 (±5.8) | 10.0 (±5.5) | 1.00 | .63 | |
| Diarrhea | 23.3 (±7.3) | 26.3 (±7.5) | 21.7 (±5.0) | .80 | .81 | |
| Financial difficulties | 35.0 (±7.0) | 31.6 (±8.2) | 20.0 (±5.6) | .36 | <.01b | |
Abbreviations: QOL, quality of life; SEM, standard error of the mean; WBC, white blood cells; Hb, hemoglobin; Plt, platelet; Neu: neutrophil; Lym, lymphocyte; CRP, C-reactive protein; CD, cluster of differentiation; NK, natural killer; IL, interleukin; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; IFN-γ, interferon-γ.
Blood samples from 20 patients were collected at day 0, indicating right before fucoidan ingestion, at 2 weeks, indicating ingestion of fucoidan for 2 weeks, and at 4 weeks, indicating ingestion of fucoidan for 4 weeks, and used for biochemical analyses. QOL scores were calculated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) submitted by the participants.
P < .05.