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.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for MALNUTRITION are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

head and neck cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms Infections infectious disease Malnutrition nutritional deficiency disease Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck tongue cancer upper aerodigestive tract neoplasm

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