INTRODUCTION: Medicinal fungus may normalize intestinal function, increase appetite and reduce adverse effects caused by conventional cancer treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the gastrointestinal alterations of patients with colorectal cancer in post-operative phase after dietary supplementation with Agaricus sylvaticus fungus. METHODOLOGY: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial carried out at the Federal District Hospital - Brazil, for six months. Samples of 56 enrolled patients (24 men and 32 women), stadiums phase I, II and III following specific criteria of inclusion and exclusion, divided into placebo and Agaricus sylvaticus (30mg/kg/day) supplemented groups: To evaluate the gastrointestinal alterations a form-standard and direct anamneses-standard method of analysis was used. The method of analysis for results was qualitative and descriptive, using the Microsoft Excel 2003 and Epi Info 2004 for Windows, version 3.3.2 programs. RESULTS: After six months of treatment it was observed that the Agaricus sylvaticus group had increased appetite and reduced constipation, diarrhea, alternate diarrhea/constipation, flatulence, flatus retention, pyrosis, postprandial fullness, nausea, abdominal distention and abdominal pain, fact not observed in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the dietary supplementation with Agaricus sylvaticus fungus can significantly improve the gastrointestinal alterations of colorectal cancer patients in post-surgery phase promoting the quality of life of these patients.
Agaricus sylvaticus fungus; gastrointestinal alterations; colorectal cancer
