Effectiveness of Early Oral Nutritional Supplementation in Preventing Weight Loss in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Postoperative Radiotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and objectives Patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) typically undergo surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy/chemoradiotherpy. Nutritional issues often arise during treatment, potentially affecting outcomes. This study aimed to investigate whether early initiation of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) would prevent weight loss in HNSCC patients undergoing postoperative radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy compared to conventional nutritional intervention.