Clinical effects of a w3 enhanced powdered nutritional formula in postsurgical ambulatory head and neck cancer patients.

BACKGROUND

Patients with head and neck cancer undergoing surgery have a high risk of nutritional complications.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of an oral w3 enriched immunoenhanced powdered formula in nutritional and biochemical parameters in postsurgical ambulatory patients with head and neck tumor.

DESIGN

A population of 33 ambulatory postsurgical patients with oral and laryngeal cancer was enrolled. At Hospital discharge postsurgical head and neck cancer patients were asked to consume two units per day of a w3 enriched immunoenhanced powdered formula for a twelve week period.

RESULTS

The mean age was 61.3 ± 9.1 years (6 female/27 males). Duration of supplementation was 95.9 ± 21.1 days. A significant increase of albumin and transferrin levels was observed, in total group and in patients undergoing radiotherapy and without it. No differences were detected in weight and other anthropometric parameters in total group and in patients with radiotherapy during the protocol. Nevertheless, patients without radiotherapy showed a significant improvement of BMI; weight, fat free mass and fat mass.

CONCLUSIONS

At dose used, an omega 3 enriched powdered formula improved seric protein levels in ambulatory postoperative head and neck cancer patients. Improvement of weight, fat mass and fat free mass was observed in patients whom not received radiotherapy during the follow up.