Comparison of effects of hydroxy methyl butyrate (HMB), glutamine and arginine combinations and oral glutamine support on nutrition

This study was planned to research nutritional status, analysis of some biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements of cancer patients that who take hydroxy methyl butyrate (HMB), glutamine (GLN) and arginine (ARG) combination, only GLN and standard enteral nutrition. Research, which was submitted to Mersin University Health Science Faculty Nutrition Committee, included 47 HMB+GLN+ARG (1st group) combination between 28 and 74 ages, 99 only GLN content (2nd group) between 25 and 74 ages and 54 standart enteral supplementation (3rd group) between 37 and 74 ages supported patients with cancer. Nutritional status of patients was analysed by nutritional risk screening (NRS-2002). Anthropometric measurements of patients were taken and some biochemical parameters were analysed. All measurements were recorded twice as pre-nutrition and post-nutrition. Considering length of hospital stay (1st group: 15.8 days, 2nd group: 18.4 days, 3rd group: 17.4 days), differences between groups found to be no statistically meaningful (p>0.05). In research, highest exitus frequency was observed within 3rd group (control group) (%18.5) and differences between groups was found to be meaningful (p<0.05). Considering body weight of patients measured before treatment and after treatment, there was increase in 1st group (42.6%) and 2nd group (70.7%) and decrease in 3rd group (70.4%), differences between groups were found to be meaningful (p<0.05). Body mass index (BKI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of patients after treatment was higher than the one before treatment in 1st and 2nd group, lower in 3rd group and NRS-2002 scores of patients after treatment was lower than the one before treatment in 1st and 2nd group, higher in 3rd group and differences found to be meaningful (p<0.05). There was a positive and meaningful relations in 1st and 2nd groups for BMI and MUAC values (p<0.05). There was a negative and meaningful relation only in 1st group for MUAC values with NRS-2002 scores (p<0.05). There was a negative and meaningful relation between NRS-2002 and serum albümin values after treatment in all three groups (p<0.05). Consequently, it was observed that group that used standard enteral nutrition which do not consist of HMB, GLN or ARG had no changes on length of hospital stay while had more mortality rate. Meaningful relations were obtained between BMI and MUAC and between NRS-2002 and serum albumin values. Randomly controlled research for efficency of only HMB and only glutamine usage on patients with cancer is needed.