Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Firenze, Italy.
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Gazi University, 06560 Ankara, Turkey.
Nutrients. 2023 Oct 17;15(20):4408. doi: 10.3390/nu15204408.
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are a group of highly prevalent malignant tumors affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Globally, one in four cancer cases and one in three cancer deaths are estimated to be GI cancers. They can alter digestive and absorption functions, leading to severe malnutrition which may worsen the prognosis of the patients. Therefore, nutritional intervention and monitoring play a fundamental role in managing metabolic alterations and cancer symptoms, as well as minimizing side effects and increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy. In this scenario, the use of immunonutrients that are able to modulate the immune system and the modification/regulation of the gut microbiota composition have gained attention as a possible strategy to improve the conditions of these patients. The complex interaction between nutrients and microbiota might contribute to maintaining the homeostasis of each individual's immune system; therefore, concurrent use of specific nutrients in combination with traditional cancer treatments may synergistically improve the overall care of GI cancer patients. This work aims to review and discuss the role of immunonutrition and microbiota modulation in improving nutritional status, postoperative recovery, and response to therapies in patients with GI cancer.
胃肠道（GI）癌症是一组高发的恶性肿瘤，影响胃肠道。全球估计有四分之一的癌症病例和三分之一的癌症死亡是胃肠道癌症。它们会改变消化和吸收功能，导致严重的营养不良，从而可能使患者的预后恶化。因此，营养干预和监测在管理代谢改变和癌症症状、最大限度地减少副作用以及提高化疗效果方面发挥着重要作用。在这种情况下，免疫营养素的使用能够调节免疫系统和改变/调节肠道微生物群组成，作为改善这些患者病情的一种可能策略引起了关注。营养素和微生物群之间的复杂相互作用可能有助于维持每个人的免疫系统的内稳态；因此，同时使用特定的营养素与传统癌症治疗相结合可能会协同改善胃肠道癌症患者的整体护理。这项工作旨在综述和讨论免疫营养和微生物群调节在改善胃肠道癌症患者的营养状况、术后恢复和对治疗的反应方面的作用。
