[Dietary information after radiotherapy of head and neck cancer]

Abstract

After completed radiotherapy, 24 in-patients and 25 out-patients enrolled at the Department of Otolaryngology, National Hospital, were randomised to either tailored dietary information and instruction by a clinical nutritionist or regular dietary information from a nurse. At the six weeks follow-up examination the incidence of malnutrition, as evaluated by anthropometry and routine blood analyses, was lower among the patients who had been given intensive information than those who had received regular information (p < 0.05). Out-patients lost more weight than in-patients did (p < 0.05). The in-patients randomised to intensive dietary information were the only ones who did not lose weight. This study indicates a beneficial effect of intensive dietary advice in order to improve nutritional status after radiation treatment.