O016 - EFFECTS OF PREOPERATIVE BETA-HYDROXY-BETA-METHYLBUTYRATE SUPPLEMENTATION ON PREOPERATIVE NUTRITIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL STATUS DURING MULTIMODAL PREHABILITATION FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING NEOADJUVANT CANCER THERAPY

O016

EFFECTS OF PREOPERATIVE BETA-HYDROXY-BETA-METHYLBUTYRATE SUPPLEMENTATION ON PREOPERATIVE NUTRITIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL STATUS DURING MULTIMODAL PREHABILITATION FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING NEOADJUVANT CANCER THERAPY

C. Fiorindi^1,*, G. Baldini¹, G. D. Testa¹, A. Di Gloria¹, A. Travelli¹, C. Tognozzi¹, S. Romanazzo¹, D. Lavacchi¹, L. S. Foti¹, S. Amatucci¹, G. Alpigiano¹, S. Romagnoli¹, L. Antonuzzo¹, F. Cianchi¹, A. Nannoni¹ on behalf of Multimodal Prehabilitation Unit, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

¹Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy

Rationale: Beta-hydroxy−beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) promotes muscle anabolism and inhibits catabolism, its effectiveness during neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) remains unclear. This retrospective analysis explores the effects of HMB supplementation during a multimodal prehabilitation (MPreHab) program on nutritional status and physical function in patients receiving NAT.

Methods: Consecutive patients with esophageal, gastric or colorectal cancer referred to the Careggi MPreHab center were included. All patients were treated with a personalized MPreHab, including medical optimization, aerobic and resistance exercise, nutritional and psychological support during NAT. Malnourished patients and/or those with reduced muscle mass received at least 1.5 g of HMB/day, if tolerated. Outcome measures included body weight, free fat mass index (FFMI), appendicular muscle mass index (ASMMI), 6-min walking distance (6MWD), hand grip strength (HGS), 30”Chair Stand Test (30CST), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin and prealbumin, and were measured at baseline and before surgery. Mann-Whitney test was used.

Results: 78 patients (mean age 67.1 ± 10.6 years) were analysed. The mean duration of MPreHab was 98.1 ± 46.4 days. Patients who received HMB group (n=39) demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the 30CST from baseline (0.68 ± 2.59 vs. -0.51 ± 3.54; p = 0.035). Prealbumin, CRP, 6MWD and HGS also improved in patients receiving HMB, but these changes were not significant. FFMI and ASMI increased, independently from receiving HMB. 

Conclusion: HMB supplementation during MPrehab in cancer patients undergoing NAT resulted in a better improvement of lower extremity strength. Overall, physical function, strength and muscle mass were maintained with PreHab during NAT. 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared