Impact of the preoperative use of synbiotics in colorectal cancer patients: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal microflora is involved in the development and regulation of the immune response. Non-pathogenic bacteria are important to prevent the development and subsequent invasion of enteropathogenic bacteria. Surgical trauma and intestinal preparation can disrupt the intestinal microbiota balance. Modulating the microbiota in the preoperative period in patients with colorectal cancer may have an effect on the occurrence of postoperative complications. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of preoperative synbiotic administration in patients with colorectal cancer subjected to colorectal resection. This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 73 patients with colorectal cancer. Eight days before surgery, patients were randomized to receive either synbiotics (Simbioflora, Farmoquimica, São Paulo, Brazi) or placebo (maltodextrin). The envelopes were identical and labeled A or B. All patients underwent nutritional assessment and measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, serum albumin, and transferrin. Patients were given a diluted envelope in 100 mL of water twice daily for 7 d. The occurrence of infectious or non-infectious complications, time of antibiotic use, duration of hospitalization, and occurrence of deaths were recorded for 30 d postoperatively. Mean age, demographic data, and tumor staging were similar between the groups at baseline. After 7 d of synbiotic intake, there were significant reductions in IL-6 levels (163.2 ± 19.5 versus 138.8 ± 12.5, P < 0.001) and CRP (10 ± 5.2 versus 7.17 ± 3.2, P < 0.001), whereas the control group did not present significant changes I IL-6 levels (154.2 ± 18.3 versus 160.9 ± 18.6, NS) or CRP (10.6 ± 6.18 versus 10.4 ± 6.1, NS). Serum albumin and transferrin did not show significant changes. Postoperative infectious complications occurred in 2.8% of patients in the synbiotic group and in 18.9% of the control group (P = 0.02). The mean antibiotic usage time was 1.42 ± 0.5 d in the synbiotic group and 3.74 ± 4.3 d in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean hospital length of stay was 3 ± 1 d in the synbiotic group and 4 ± 18 in the control group (P < 0.001). Three deaths were reported in the control group and none in the synbiotic group (P = 0.115). The use of synbiotics for 7 d preoperatively in patients with colorectal cancer attenuates the inflammatory state and is associated with reductions in morbidity, hospital length of stay, and use of antibiotics.