The Impact of Use of Glutamine on Patients with Head and Neck Tumors in Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with head and neck neoplasia usually show malnutrition or a nutritional risk, because of common symptoms like: dysphagia, odynophagia and xerostomia. Objective: This study aimed to verify the impact of using amino glutamine in patients with head and neck neoplasia and under radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment concomitantly. Methods: The research was quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory. The data was collected from nutritional evaluation, and patients chart consultation. The patients were divided in a control group (without use of glutamine) and a test group (with use of glutamine). 16 patients, 13 of which were men and three were women, participated in the research. Results: The control group presented mucositis grades I to IV while patients who used the amino glutamine showed mucositis grades I to II only. It could be observed that the Nutritional Risk Index decreased, which represents higher nutritional risk in patients from the control group only. In patients who used glutamine, this decrease was not significant. Conclusion: These results suggest that the use of glutamine in patients with head and neck tumors and under antineoplastic therapy helps to maintain their nutritional stage and to prevent mucositis throughout their treatment, mainly grades III and IV, which prevents adequate and regular eating and nourishment.