Nutrition for Colorectal Cancer Patients and Neutrophil Functions

Hypercatabolism and immune suppression are frequently seen in patients with malignancy. Preoperative nutritional state is an important factor in determining surgical and postoperative complications because the preoperative nutritional status affects the postoperative nutritional state, immunity and inflammatory response. In these patients, standard parenteral nutrition may not be sufficient to maintain the immunity and provide positive or stabilized nitrogen balance. Preoperative and perioperative supplementation with immune-enhancing enteral nutrition has been reported to increase total lymphocytes and T lymphocytes and decrease circulating levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor- alfa. There is a report which showed that glutamine dipeptide supplemented parenteral nutrition improved the cellular and humoral immune functions. The investigators aimed to evaluate the effect of postoperative glutamine-dipeptide and/or omega 3 fatty acid supplemented parenteral nutrition on the neutrophil functions and postoperative course of patients with colorectal cancer.