Omega-3 fatty acid-, micronutrient-, and probiotic-enriched nutrition helps body weight stabilization in head and neck cancer cachexia

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2013 Jul;116(1):41-8. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2013.01.015. Epub 2013 Apr 2.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether an oral nutritional supplement enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients, and probiotics affected body weight (BW) changes, serum albumin and prealbumin levels in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) cachexia.

Study design: Sixty-eight HNC patients were randomly assigned to receive either an Ethanwell/Ethanzyme (EE) regimen enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients, and probiotics, or control (Isocal) for a 3-month period. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the association between BW change and variables.

Results: Patients with body mass index (BMI) <19 and those receiving the EE regimen consumed fewer daily calories but showed significantly increased BW and maintained higher serum albumin and prealbumin levels than other patients (P<.05). Their BW changes were significantly associated with changes in serum albumin and prealbumin levels.

Conclusions: EE regimen improved BW as well as serum albumin and prealbumin levels in HNC patients with BMI <19.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Body Weight
  • Cachexia / blood
  • Cachexia / diet therapy*
  • Cachexia / etiology
  • Cachexia / mortality
  • Diet Records
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / complications*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Micronutrients / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Prealbumin / analysis*
  • Probiotics / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Serum Albumin / analysis*
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Micronutrients
  • Prealbumin
  • Serum Albumin