title: Prospective Randomized Trial on Postoperative Administration of Diet Containing Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Gamma-linolenic Acid, and Antioxidants in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery Patients with Free-flap Reconstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to evaluate the effects of a diet containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), and antioxidants in head and neck cancer surgery patients with free-flap reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, prospective study, 62 patients with head and neck cancers were assigned to receive a general control diet (Ensure(®) H; Abbott Japan, Tokyo, Japan) or the study diet (Oxepa(®); Abbott Japan) containing EPA, DHA, GLA, and antioxidants (eg vitamins A, E, and C). The primary assessment item was the degree of postoperative inflammation, as assessed by measuring maximum body temperature and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin from the day of surgery to postoperative day 8. Secondary assessment items were lengths of stays in the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The control diet group (n = 32) and study diet group (n = 30) showed no significant difference in energy administered through diet. No significant differences in the parameters of the primary assessment item were noted. Length of stay in the ICU was significantly shorter for the control diet group than for the study diet group (P = 0.011). No significant difference in duration of hospitalization was seen between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No usefulness of a diet containing EPA, DHA, GLA, and antioxidants was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Motohashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
keywords: antioxidant; docosahexaenoic acid; eicosapentaenoic acid; gamma-linolenic acid; head and neck cancer; nutrition