Can a beetroot drink spot dangerous surgical leaks before they turn deadly?
NCT ID NCT07726966
First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial explores whether betacyanin, a pigment found in beetroot, can help doctors detect anastomotic leakage — a serious complication where intestinal contents leak after rectal cancer surgery — earlier than current methods. About 120 people undergoing laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery will drink a betacyanin solution daily after their operation. By measuring the pigment in pelvic drainage fluid, researchers hope to spot leaks sooner and also track how well the leak heals. The goal is a simple, low-cost way to improve outcomes after rectal cancer surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- betacyanin (a pigment from beetroot) given as an oral solution
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, non-invasive way to catch anastomotic leaks earlier and track healing after rectal cancer surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-center trial, so results may not apply broadly. Betacyanin's effectiveness as a diagnostic marker is unproven, and the drink itself may cause harmless red discoloration of urine or stool.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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General Surgery Center of PLA
Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 400030, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can diet and vitamin c supercharge rectal cancer treatment?
- AI as a surgical Co-Pilot: predicting difficulty in rectal cancer
- A new radiation combo may spare the rectum in early cancer
- Can a triple-drug cocktail after short radiation eliminate rectal cancer without surgery?
- Metabolic MRI may reveal hidden cancer responses and spare patients from surgery
- Can we predict who will survive a bowel surgery leak?