Catarci M, et al. – The researchers carried out this randomized controlled trial to test the hypothesis that pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy could influence nutritional status and quality of life after gastrectomy. For gastric cancer, pancreatic enzyme supplementation (PES–d) improved nutritional status and quality of life after gastrectomy, especially within 3 months from the operation. To address the potential influence of several confounding variables such as disease stage and adjuvant treatments, a larger, multicenter trial was necessary.

Methods

• The researchers randomly assigned 43 patients with gastric cancer to a normal diet (Normal-d; n = 21) or to a pancreatic enzyme supplementation diet (PES-d; n = 22) after gastrectomy.
• They followed up them during a 12-month period, assessing nutritional status and quality of life through body mass index (BMI), instant nutritional assessment (INA) class status, serum pre-albumin (SPA) values, and GastroiIntestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI).

Results

• By the type of diet, BMI was not significantly affected; INA class status was significantly improved in the PES-d arm, particularly during the first 3 months after gastrectomy; SPA levels increased in both arms at 6 months after gastrectomy, reaching significantly higher values in the PES-d arm at 12 months.
• Throughout the follow-up period, GIQLI was not significantly influenced by the type of diet.
• However, between the first and third month after gastrectomy, this index significantly improved in the PES-d arm.