Impact of Immunonutrition on Nutritional Status in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Colorectal cancer is one of the five most common cancer types in men and women worldwide. Cancer malnutrition is seen in patients with colorectal cancer, and this adversely affects the prognosis of the disease. Major operations performed may lead to dysfunction in body homeostasis, impaired defense mechanisms and inflammatory response, increasing the risk of postoperative complications and prolonging hospital stay. Nutritional support products enriched with special compounds such as arginine, glutamine, and omega3 may contribute to the daily energy intake of patients, as well as support the immune system, increase wound healing, and reduce the risk of infection. It is well-documented that preoperative and perioperative compared to no immunonutrition effectively reduce the risk of developing infectious complications and the length of hospital stay. Unless, studies on this subject are very few, especially in our country, Turkey, and their results are contradictory. The aim of this study is to investigate the additional effects of perioperative compared with preoperative immunonutrition (IMN) on anthropometric, nutritional, biochemical parameters, hospital stay and postoperative complication in patients with colorectal cancer. The hypotheses of this study are as follows: H0: There is no difference between the consumption of perioperative compared with preoperative immunonutrition (IMN) on anthropometric, nutritional, biochemical parameters, hospital stay and postoperative complication in patients with colorectal cancer. H1: Perioperative immunonutrition compare to preoperative has a positive effect in improving the anthropometric measurements, nutritional and biochemical parameters, hospital stay and postoperative complication in patients with colorectal cancer. Primary purpose: To evaluate the effects of IMN on anthropometric measurements, nutritional and biochemical values of participants in groups. Secondary purpose: To evaluate the effects of IMN on postoperative complications and length of hospital stay in groups. The study was conducted as a single-blind prospective randomized controlled clinical trial at a single institution, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital General Surgery Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey, between November 2020 and October 2021. The participants included consecutive patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.