Resumen de Effect of l-arginine supplementation on insulin resistance and adipocitokines levels in head and neck cancer non diabetic patients after surgery

Daniel Antonio de Luis Román, Olatz Izaola Jáuregui, Beatriz de la Fuente Salvador, Rocío Aller de la Fuente

• Introduction: Previous studies have found that L-arginine induced beneficial effects over insulin resistance both in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and healthy individuals. The aim of our study was to investigate whether an L-arginine enteral supplementation (20 g per day) in head and neck cancer patients could modify insulin resistance, leptin and adiponectin levels after surgery.

  Material and Methods: At surgery 82 patients were randomly allocated to two groups: group I received an enteral diet supplements with a high dose of arginine (20g per day) and group II received an enteral formula without arginine. At basal time and on postoperative day 10, the following parameters were recorded: glucose, c-reactive protein, insulin, HOMA (homeostasis model assessment), leptin and adiponectin.

  Results: Values of weight, body mass index, fat mass and fat free mass remained unchaged during the acute nutritional intervention in both groups. Insulin levels UI/L (-0.21+/-0.18) and HOMA units (-0.07+/-0.13) decreased in the arginine group. Adiponectin levels (+1.8+/-2.3ng/ml) increased in the arginine group.

  Conclusion: Short-term enteral L-arginine therapy addeded to usual enteral nutrition of patients affected by head and neck cancer and surgery without diabetes mellitus type 2 is able to improve insulin resistance and adiponectin levels.