Investigation of the effect of immunonutrition on nutritional status in patients with gastrointestinal system cancer.

Cancer cases around the world are increasing exponentially every year, and gastrointestinal cancers are among the most common cancers. Nutritional therapy is an important factor on nutrient intake and absorption in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Nutritional status in cancer patients may vary depending on multiple changeable and unchangeable factors. Due to inadequate nutritional intake and metabolic changes in individuals diagnosed with cancer, changes in body weight, muscle mass and physical function may decrease rapidly and affect changes in body composition. These changes may negatively affect tolerance to cancer treatment and quality of life. At the same time, inadequate nutritional knowledge of cancer patients may accelerate the formation of undesirable problems during and/or after the treatment. The importance of keeping the immune system strong in cancer treatments has been known for years. In daily life, individuals' nutrition rich in immunonutrients (arginine, glutamine, vitamins A, C, E, zinc, selenium and purine nucleotides) can support the strengthening of the immune system and maintain body balance. This study aimed to reveal the effects of immunonutrient use on blood and infection parameters, nutritional knowledge and quality of life in adult gastrointestinal system cancer patients. The research was conducted among individuals diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 19-78 who applied to the medical oncology department of Koç University Hospital and Memorial Şişli Hospital in Istanbul between September 1 and December 1, 2023, and a total of 74 volunteers participated in the study. When the results were examined, a statistically significant relationship was found between the infection parameters such as the leukocyte and neutrophil ratio of the participants and the immunonutrients consumed, and a statistically significant relationship was found between the neutrophil ratio values and vitamin A intake of the male participants (p<0.05), and a statistically significant relationship between the lymphocyte ratio values and selenium intake of the female participants. (p<0.05). A statistically significant relationship was found between serum albumin value and vitamin A intake, and between blood calcium value and omega-3, vitamin C and zinc intake of male participants (p<0.05). In female participants, a statistically significant relationship was found between albumin serum value and purine nucleotide intake, between blood potassium value and zinc intake, and between ALT value and vitamin C intake (p<0.05). A statistically significant relationship was found between YEDDBID and EORTC QLQ-C30 subfactor scores and energy, macro and micro nutrient values and biochemical parameters (p <0.05).