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Effects of enteral nutritional rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the nutritional status of gastrointestinal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 220–230 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Postoperative malnutrition is a major issue among gastrointestinal cancer patients. Because n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) have immunological benefits, n-3 PUFAs are widely used in oral nutritional supplements (ONS). However, n-3 PUFAs in ONS reduced patients’ compliance with ONS and affected the role of ONS in maintaining the postoperative nutritional status of patients. The aim of this study was to systematically explore the benefits of enteral nutrition rich in n-3 PUFAs in maintaining the nutritional status of patients after gastrointestinal surgery. Databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP databases were searched through March 16, 2019. The references of related reviews and studies were assessed up to March 16, 2019. The effect sizes from individual studies were calculated as the standardized mean difference (SMD), mean difference (MD), and risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). A total of 11 studies (n = 977) were included. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we observed that enteral supplementation of n-3 PUFAs had no significant effect on weight (MD, 1.09; 95% CI, −0.90, 3.08), body mass index (MD, 0.55; 95% CI, −1.45, 2.54), albumin (SMD, 0.39; 95% CI, −0.10, 0.87), wound infections (RR, 0.87, 95% CI, 0.57, 1.33), or pneumonia (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.60, 1.59) in gastrointestinal cancer patients. Thus, compared with enteral nutritional without n-3 PUFAs, enteral nutritional rich in n-3 PUFAs has no significant effects on nutritional status, incidence of pneumonia, or wound infections among gastrointestinal cancer patients during postoperative convalescence.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the National natural science foundation of China [31800895] to X-yZ and Youth Science and Technology Backbone Project [2017Q026] of Health Science and Technology of Jilin Province to X-yZ.

Funding

This work was supported by the National natural science foundation of China [31800895], and Youth Science and Technology Backbone Project [2017Q026] of Health Science and Technology of Jilin Province.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fundamental Nursing, School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, PR China

    Guang-ying Wan, Li-yuan Zheng, Hui-qin Li, Hua Yuan & Xiu-ying Zhang

  2. Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, Jilin, PR China

    Hui Xue

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G-yW contributed to the performance of the study, analysis and interpretation the data, and drafted the manuscript; L-yZ contributed to the supervision of the study and interpreted the data; HY contributed to the analysis and interpretation the data; H-qL contributed to the performance of the study and revised the manuscript; and X-yZ and HX contributed to the conception of the study, performed the study, interpreted the data, and significantly revised the manuscript.

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Wan, Gy., Zheng, Ly., Li, Hq. et al. Effects of enteral nutritional rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the nutritional status of gastrointestinal cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 220–230 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0527-5

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