Abstract
To evaluate the impact of photobiomodulation for oral mucositis on body weight and body mass index (BMI) in head and neck cancer patients. Patients were separated into two groups: photobiomodulation (PBM) (n = 17) and SHAM (n = 19). Participants assigned to the PBM group received the photobiomodulation therapy on alternate days at 33 different sites of the oral mucosa (1J for 10s per application point) using a low-power aluminum gallium arsenide (AsGaAl) laser device with a maximum output power of 86.7 mW and a wavelength of 660nm (red). The same protocol was performed in patients allocated in the SHAM group but with the device turned off. At the first and twenty-fourth radiotherapy sessions, participants from both groups underwent an intraoral examination to assess the presence or absence of mucositis using the WHO scale, and measurements of weight and height for BMI calculation were undertaken. All patients had significant differences in weight and BMI throughout the study period. Patients in the PBM group lost less weight (p < 0.01) and had a reduced BMI loss (p < 0.01) in comparison to patients in the SHAM group. Although PBM did not prevent oral mucositis, it decreased its severity (p < 0.01). Photobiomodulation for oral mucositis reduced weight loss and prevented a reduction in BMI in patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Retrospectively registered at https://data.mendeley.com//datasets/4kd7s49wk4/1 .
Highlights
Accelerated weight loss and malnutrition are secondary disorders that frequently affect cancer patients
Photobiomodulation for oral mucositis reduces weight loss and prevented the reduction of Body Mass Index (BMI) in patients who underwent radiochemotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer. It did not avoid the appearance of oral mucositis, PBM was able to reduce its degrees, preventing the progress of this condition
The prevalence of these conditions is variable and might range from 40 to 80% in individuals with head and neck cancer (HNC) [1] and occur due to local and metabolic changes of large magnitude that are produced by tumor cells, their growth and the secondary effects of antineoplastic treatments [2,3,4,5,6]
Summary
Accelerated weight loss and malnutrition are secondary disorders that frequently affect cancer patients. The main treatment modalities for HNC are surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy which have been associated with acute side effects, especially oral mucositis (OM). It presents itself as an ulcerative character, associated with pain, dysphagia and odynophagia, and complications in diction [7]. This set of manifestations can lead to a state of dehydration due to difficulty in water intake, in addition to lower food intake, resulting in weight loss, negative variation in the Body Mass Index (BMI) and worsening of the individual's nutritional status [8]. PBM could decrease weight loss and BMI reduction by preventing or treating OM
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