PD752 - MICRONUTRIENT AND CAROTENOID STATUS MEASURED IN BLOOD SAMPLES FROM PATIENTS IN THE REHABILITATION PHASE AFTER HEAD AND NECK CANCER

PD752

MICRONUTRIENT AND CAROTENOID STATUS MEASURED IN BLOOD SAMPLES FROM PATIENTS IN THE REHABILITATION PHASE AFTER HEAD AND NECK CANCER

E. B. Eidsvåg¹, I. M. Gjelstad², C. Henriksen¹, N. S. Warmbrodt³, I. Paur^2,*

¹Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, ²Norwegian National Network for Disease-Related Undernutrition, Section of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Clinical Service, Division of Cancer Medicine , ³The Nutrition Outpatient Clinic, Section of Clinical Nutrition, Department of Clinical Service, Division of Cancer Medicine , Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

Rationale: Patients with head and neck cancers (HNC) are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition due to a high burden of symptoms that impairs food intake and necessitate dietary changes. Malnutrition often progresses during the treatment period; however, little is known about the impact of dietary changes on the blood concentrations of micronutrients and carotenoids after the completion of radiotherapy in these patients.

Methods: At the Nutrition Outpatient Clinic, Oslo University Hospital patients donated blood after the completion of radiotherapy for HNC. Samples were drawn at a routine follow-up appointment 6 weeks after radiotherapy (n=22) or at later appointments (range 7-92 weeks, n=26). Vitamins A, B6, B12, D, E; folate, selenium, zinc, magnesium, iron, and hemoglobin were analyzed according to standard protocols in laboratories used in routine clinical practice. Carotenoids were analyzed by Vitas AS (Oslo, Norway) and compared to a cohort of adults. Ethics: REK no. 821660.

Results: Blood samples from 48 patients (mean age 66 years, 71% men) were included. The mean BMI was 27kg/m², 75% were ever smokers, 58% were HPV-positive, 40% had TNM stage I, and 21% stage IV. For the entire population, micronutrients were within reference ranges. Deficiencies or suboptimal levels were found for folate (n=8), vitamin B6 (n=4), vitamin B12 (n=4), vitamin D (n=2), selenium (n=21), zinc (n=22) and magnesium (n=10). Hemoglobin corresponding to anemia was detected in 25%. Carotenoid levels were comparable to the reference population, however with higher levels in women.

Conclusion: In patients with HNC, several micronutrient deficiencies were identified, and low levels of hemoglobin were common. Micronutrient analyses may be indicated during periods of altered dietary intake, tube feeding and oral nutritional supplements.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared