Effect of Nutritional Supplementation Enriched with Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Inflammatory Profile of Patients With Oral Cavity Cancer in Antineoplastic Pretreatment: A Controlled and Randomized Clinical Trial.

The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of nutritional supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched formula on the inflammatory profile of patients with oral cavity cancer. The study was conducted with 53 patients with oral cavity cancer in antineoplastic pretreatment who were randomized into two groups: the control group received a powdered supplement without EPA during 4 wk and the intervention group received a liquid supplement enriched with EPA (2 g/day) during the same period. In the baseline and after 4 wk of supplementation, serum concentrations of albumin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Values of CRP and of CRP/albumin ratio were lower in the intervention group than those in the control group. However, when the two groups were compared to each other after intervention, any significant difference was not observed. There was a significant negative correlation between levels of CRP and albumin, and IL-6 and albumin, both in the control and in the intervention groups. In both groups, a positive correlation between concentrations of IL-6 and CRP was observed. No significant difference was encountered in the assessed parameters between the group that received standard supplement and the group that received EPA-enriched supplement.

Effects of ω-3 supplementation on the nutritional status, immune, and inflammatory profiles of gastric cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to study the effect of ω-3 supplementation on the nutritional status and the immune and inflammatory profiles of patients with gastric cancer during antineoplastic pretreatment. METHODS: This was a randomized, open, controlled longitudinal study with intervention in outpatient patients with gastric cancer. Sixty-eight patients were randomized into two groups and received either a formula enriched with ω-3 (intervention group [IG]) or standard formula without ω-3 (control group) for 30 d consecutively. Nutritional status (based on patient-generated subjective global assessment, bioimpedance, and anthropometric measurements) and immune and inflammatory parameters were collected before and after supplementation. Results were expressed as frequency, median, and interquartile intervals and were compared by non-parametric test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were included in each group. Of the patients, 64.7% were men, 44.1% were older than 60 years, and 45.6% had stage III disease. There was an increase in C-reactive protein in the control group before and after supplementation, in addition to the worsening in some anthropometric parameters, such as arm muscle area and arm muscle circumference. There was maintenance of the immune profile in both groups. An increase in weight gain was observed in the IG but not in the control group (1.2 [0.9-9] versus 0.7 kg [0.4-1.3]; P = 0.03), as was a reduction of interleukin-6 (5.7 [4.1-6.4] versus 6.3 pg/mL [5.6-8.6]; P = 0.03) and a maintenance of nutritional status, after supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with ω-3 leads to weight gain, reduction in the inflammatory profile, and maintenance of the nutritional and immune profiles of these patients, but further studies are needed to examine changes in body composition.

First-bite syndrome after resection of the styloid process.

BACKGROUND: First-bite syndrome (FBS) may occur after operations on parapharyngeal space. The main symptom is excruciating pain only after the first one or two bites of meals. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to report a case of FBS after resection of the styloid process (SP). CASE REPORT: This 51-year-old woman had a 4-month history of pain on her left neck. Computed tomography scan showed a left hypertrophic SP. A diagnosis of Eagle syndrome (ES) was then established. She underwent excision of the left SP through a lateral cervicotomy. Postoperative recovery was uneventful with pain relief. However, 2 months postoperatively, intense pain appeared related to the first bite in every meal. She received 800 mg carbamazepine per day with good pain control. Medication was discontinued after 2 years with no further relapse. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on FBS after surgical treatment of ES. It is important to remember the possibility of the diagnosis and to maintain the patient under heavy specific medication, sometimes for longer periods.