title: Intensive nutritional care for patients treated with radiotherapy in head and neck cancer: a randomized study and meta-analysis.
abstract: Nutritional care improves quality of life (QOL) in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. The aim of our study was to determine whether intensive nutritional care (INC) would further improve QOL. In addition to a control group based on European and American guidelines, patients included in the INC group received six meetings with a dietitian. QOL was measured after radiotherapy using the EORTC QLQ-C30. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the best nutritional care. In the 87 patients, the QOL scores, weight, energy, and protein intakes were similar between the INC group (n = 43) and the control group (n = 44). The meta-analysis revealed no heterogeneity and significant differences in QOL (three studies) (p = 0.46) or weight changes after radiotherapy (four studies) (p = 0.06). The nutritional care specified in the European and American guidelines is composed of well-defined recommendations, and appears sufficient to maintain QOL without further intervention.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Caen, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, 14000, Caen, France. lisemarie61@yahoo.fr.|INSERM, U 1086 "Cancer et Prévention", Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, Caen, France. lisemarie61@yahoo.fr.
authors: Lise-Marie
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7831-1912
authors: LM
authors: Roussel
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Caen, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, 14000, Caen, France.
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Micault
authors: Department of Pharmacy, CHU de Caen, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, Caen, France.
authors: Damien
authors: D
authors: Peyronnet
authors: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Center François Baclesse, Avenue du Général Harris, Caen, France.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Blanchard
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Center Tubiana, Rue du Capitaine Guynemer, Caen, France.
authors: Séverine
authors: S
authors: Guarnieri
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Rouen, Rue de Germont, Rouen, France.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Choussy
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Center François Baclesse, Avenue du Général Harris, Caen, France.
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Géry
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Center Tubiana, Rue du Capitaine Guynemer, Caen, France.
authors: Arnaud
authors: A
authors: Béquignon
authors: Department of Nutrition, CHU de Caen, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, Caen, France.
authors: Corinne
authors: C
authors: Joubert
authors: Department of Biotatistics and Clinical Research, CHU de Caen, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, Caen, France.
authors: Jean-Jacques
authors: JJ
authors: Parienti
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Caen, Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, 14000, Caen, France.|INSERM, U 1086 "Cancer et Prévention", Avenue de la Côte de Nacre, Caen, France.
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Babin
mesh_terms: D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: Head and neck neoplasms; Malnutrition; Quality of life; Radiotherapy