This study will be a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial which aims to examine the effect of soybean compared to cowpea on nutritional status, blood and bone marrow cells count, inflammatory markers and chemotherapy complications in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
In the present study, after selection of the children based on inclusion criteria and obtaining informed consent from their parents, they will be randomly (based on age groups) assigned into intervention and control groups and will receive, thirty grams of powdered unsalted roasted soybeans or thirty grams of powdered unsalted roasted cowpea flour for three months, respectively. The flours will be provided in sachets which will be mixed with the children's' daily foods (usually soup).
Participants will be blinded to the intervention supplements up to the end of the study period. Dietary and supplements intake, physical activity, chemotherapy drugs' dose, anthropocentric indices, side effects of chemotherapyو blood and bone marrow samples will be assessed at the beginning, month one, two and three of the study. Serum inflammatory markers including highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) will also be assessed for each participant at the start and the end of intervention period.
The adherence to the study protocol will be assessed by telephone monitoring, and the participants will be asked to bring back the sachets all the sachets (empty and full) in each monthly visit.