Can a special diet before surgery prevent infections in head and neck cancer patients?
NCT ID NCT00765440
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 3 trial tested whether giving a special nutritional supplement (immunonutrition) before and after surgery could reduce infections in 311 patients with head and neck cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three nutrition regimens. The main goal was to see if the supplement lowered the rate of infectious complications after surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- therapeutic nutritional supplementation (immunonutrition)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could show that a specific nutritional supplement given around surgery lowers the risk of infections in head and neck cancer patients.
- What could go wrong
- This trial is completed but results are not yet widely confirmed. The benefit may be small or not apply to all patients. Nutritional supplements are generally safe, but the effect on infection rates is uncertain.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Centre Antoine Lacassagne
Nice, 06189, France
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