Effects of enteral nutrition intervention on immune and nutritional indexes of patients with gastric malignant cancer during postoperative chemotherapy

Abstract

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate changes in nutritional status and related indexes in patients with Nutritional Risk Score (NRS) ≥ 3 gastric cancer after nutritional support treatment. Methods A total of 50 patients with gastric cancer were divided into two groups according to the different nutritional support treatment they received during postoperative chemotherapy: immune-enhanced enteral nutrition group (n = 25) and conventional enteral nutrition group (n = 25). Changes in patient’ body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin (HB), serum total protein (TP), serum albumin (ALB), and immune indexes (CD3+, CD4+/CD8+, CD3+/CD8+) were monitored before and after chemotherapy. At the same time, the incidence and classification of gastrointestinal adverse reactions after chemotherapy were assessed. Results Compared with the conventional enteral nutrition group, the nutritional and immune indexes in the immune-enhanced enteral nutrition group were significantly improved. After chemotherapy, the incidence of adverse reactions in the digestive tract was relatively lower and the grade was reduced. Conclusion Immune-enhanced enteral nutrition support can significantly improve the nutritional status of patients, improve immune function, increase the susceptibility of cancer patients to chemotherapy, reduce toxicity and adverse effects, and improve the quality of life of tumor patients compared with conventional enteral nutrition support.