When a person undergoes surgery for gastric cancer, the road to recovery is often physically and emotionally demanding. One of the biggest challenges during this time is maintaining weight and nutrition. After a gastrectomy, which is the surgical removal of part of the stomach, patients often struggle to keep weight on as they adjust to their new routine. This makes the role of nutrition a vital part of the healing process.
To better understand how to support these patients, researchers looked at data from 1,736 people who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. They compared two groups: one group received standard care, while the other group received oral nutritional supplements (ONS) after they were discharged from the hospital. These supplements are designed to provide extra nutrients and calories to help patients maintain their health during recovery.
The results showed that patients who took the oral nutritional supplements had a significantly lower amount of weight loss compared to those who did not. Specifically, the group taking supplements saw a reduction in the amount of weight lost by about 0.75 kilograms on average. While the supplements helped slow down weight loss in the weeks following surgery, the study did not find significant differences in other areas. These other areas included body composition, handgrip strength, and various laboratory markers. This means that while the supplements helped with weight, they did not necessarily change muscle mass or other physical strength markers in the short term.
In terms of safety, the study found no significant difference in adverse events between the two groups. This suggests that the supplements were well-tolerated by the patients during the follow-up period of up to three months. However, there are important reasons to be cautious before making big changes. The study was based on a small number of trials, and there was a lot of variation in how weight was measured across those trials. Additionally, the researchers did not know if the benefits of these supplements lasted longer than three months.
For patients right now, this means that oral nutritional supplements could be a helpful tool to help manage weight loss in the months immediately following a gastrectomy. While it is not a guaranteed fix for every health metric, it shows a promising way to support patients during a difficult recovery period. Patients should always talk to their medical team to see if these specific supplements are right for their individual recovery plan.
