Oral Protein Supplements Might Improve Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients after Standard Pancreatic Resection

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 16; no. 17; p. 2988
• Main Authors: Lee, Na Rae, Hwang, Ho Kyoung, Lee, Hosun, Kang, Chang Moo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 04.09.2024
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Body fat; Body mass index; Cancer surgery; Carbohydrates; Chemotherapy; Data collection; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; Dietary Supplements; Dietitians; Double-Blind Method; Edema; elderly post-surgical patients; Enzymes; Female; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; Medical research; Mortality; Nutrition; Nutritional Status; Older people; Pancreatectomy; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreaticoduodenectomy - adverse effects; Patients; protein supplementation; Protein synthesis; Proteins; Quality of Life; quality of life (QoL); Research methodology; Sarcopenia; Sarcopenia - prevention & control; muscle mass; quality of life (QoL); nutritional status; pancreatic cancer; elderly post-surgical patients; protein supplementation; sarcopenia
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu16172988

Elderly patients who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) or distal pancreatectomy (DP) experience not only a reduction in protein intake but also a decrease in protease secretion, leading to impaired protein digestion and absorption. This increases the risk of malnutrition and creates a dual burden of sarcopenia. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examined the impact of protein supplements on the nutritional status and quality of life (QoL) of elderly patients after PPPD and DP surgeries. For six weeks, the case group (CG; = 23) consumed protein supplements containing 18 g of protein daily, while the placebo group (PG; = 18) consumed a placebo with the same amount of carbohydrate. In elderly patients where protein digestion and intake were compromised, the CG showed significantly higher protein intake (77.3 ± 5.3 g vs. 56.7 ± 6.0 g, = 0.049), improved QoL, better nutritional status, and faster walking speed compared to the PG. Protein intake was positively correlated with muscle mass and phase angle. Protein supplementation may not only increase protein intake but also improve clinical outcomes such as walking speed, nutritional status, and QoL in elderly post-surgical patients at high risk of sarcopenia. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal dosage and long-term effects.