[24-hour oral intake in patients with upper aerodigestive tumors]

A lot of works have shown, alterations in oral intake of micro and macronutrients, in patients with upper aerodigestive tumors. The main aim of our work was to compare the daily intake in a group of patients with upper aerodigestive tumors versus a control group.

A group pf 35 patients with upper aerodigestive tumors were studied (8 oral cavity and 27 larynx). A group of 35 subjects were use as control group. In all patients the next parameters were taken; age, sex, smoking and alcohol consumption, type of tumors and a 24 hours oral intake questionnaire.

Patients with upper aerodigestive tumors showed a high increase of calories intake (1545.3 +/- 359 cal/day vs 1264.4 +/- 240 cal/day; p < 0.05), carbohydrates intake (177.9 +/- 57.9 g/day vs 135.9 +/- 38.5 g/day; p < 0.05), total fats (58.2 +/- 18.4 g/day vs 45.9 +/- 15.4 g/day; p < 0.05) and saturated fats intake (19.4 +/- 7.7 g/day vs 11.9 +/- 6.1 g/day; p < 0.05). In micronutrients intake differences were detected, a low intake in tumoral patients of vitamin C (59.4 +/- 18.5 mg/day vs 141.5 +/- 83 mg/día; p < 0.05), folic acid (116.5 +/- 56.3 mg/day vs 180.5 +/- 78.5 mg/day; p < 0.05), and vitamin B2 (1.53 +/- 0.5 mg/day vs 23.9 +/- 6.5 g/day; p < 0.05). In minerals intake we detected a low intake in tumoral patients of calcium (702.9 +/- 363 mg/day vs 942.4 +/- 327 mg/day; p < 0.05).

Patients with upper aerodigestive tumors take a high amount of calories, saturated fats and carbohydrates, and a low intake of vitamin C, folic, vitamin B12 and calcium.