Nutritional Modulation Improves the Immune Function of Cervical Carcinoma Patients Receiving Radiotherapy: a Retrospective Analysis of 106 Cases

Abstract

The additional nutritional supplement will attenuate those impairments associated with radiotherapy. In the current study, we hypothesized that nutritional modulation could improve immune function of cervical cancer (CC) patients receiving radiotherapy. 106 CC who patients underwent radiotherapy were included in the current analysis. Fifty-five patients received a nutritional supplement containing omega-3 fats, arginine, dietary nucleotides, and soluble fiber during the radiotherapy treatment, with the remaining patients receiving a normal diet. The effects of the nutritional supplement were evaluated by collecting clinicopathological information. The analysis results showed that the body weight and body mass index (BMI) in the Nutritional group were both significantly higher than those in the Control group, along with improved nutritional status in Nutritional group assessed by patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA) and nutritional risk screening (NRS)-2002 scales. Moreover, all three proteins were significantly higher in the Nutritional group after the treatment when compared with the Control group, and the Nutritional group had significantly higher levels of CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺, NK cells, and B lymphocytes, suggesting that nutritional modulation improved immune function of CC patients undergoing radiotherapy. Collectively, nutritional modulation could effectively improve the health status of CC patients receiving radiotherapy by benefiting the patients’ nutritional status and attenuating immune deficiency associated with radiotherapy.