As many as 20 percent of cancer patients die from the effects of malnutrition, rather than cancer, according to study published in the June 2008 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Side effects of chemotherapy can include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, mouth tenderness and a reduction in taste and smell, all of which are likely to contribute to malnutrition. Malnutrition prior to treatment can cause severe vitamin deficiencies, so consult your physician about nutrition counseling prior to chemotherapy.
Vitamin D
The type of cancer can determine the occurrence of malnutrition in cancer patients. Nutritional deficiencies resulting from chemotherapy commonly include vitamin D and antioxidants. A February 2009 study published in the "International Journal of Colorectal Disease," evaluated the link between chemotherapy and vitamin D deficiency in people with colorectal cancer. The 315 participants with colorectal cancer were measured for vitamin D status. Some patients received chemotherapy and some did not. The ones receiving chemotherapy were two to four times as likely to experience severe vitamin D deficiency.
Antioxidants
Children with lymphoblastic leukemia are rarely malnourished, according to researchers, and this made them prime candidates to study the effect of chemotherapy on antioxidant levels. The study, published in the June 2004 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," evaluated 103 children with this cancer for micronutrient levels, dietary habits and side effects from chemotherapy for six months. The children took supplements for vitamin E, carotenoids, B-carotene and vitamin A. The higher vitamin consumption was associated with fewer infections, lower risk of toxicity from chemotherapy, shorter hospital stays and fewer delays in therapy due to illness.
Ovarian Cancer
Women with ovarian cancer are 19 times more likely to be malnourished prior to and following treatment. In November 2010, the "Singapore Medical Journal," published a study evaluating the occurrence of malnutrition in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Out of 88 participants, around 48 percent experienced malnutrition. In June 2000, a study published in "Obstetrics and Gynecology" evaluated 67 women with gynecologic cancer, to establish the prevalence of malnutrition. Half of the women received surgery and the other half chemotherapy. Fifty-four percent of the chemotherapy patients experienced malnutrition. Hospital stay averaged four days longer for women who were malnourished. Therefore, nutrition therapy prior to cancer treatment may be beneficial for reducing hospital stay and recovery times.
Protein Deficiency
The element nitrogen is required by the body for the process of building proteins. When the nitrogen balance is off, proteins in the body, such as muscle tissue, are unable to survive. This is a process called cachexia, or wasting syndrome, and is common in patients with cancer. The study published in June 2008 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," reported that nitrogen balance is measured by total urinary nitrogen readings and protein intake. The average protein intake for 30 participants undergoing chemotherapy was 1.1 g/kg of body weight and the average nitrogen excretion ranged from 16 to 28 g of protein loss per day from treatment. Some chemotherapy drugs cause a greater nitrogen imbalance than others. Even without obvious weight loss, malnutrition and poor nitrogen balance can occur undetected and multiple screening methods for malnutrition should be incorporated, the research states. Unfortunately, even with protein intake substitutions, the effects of the treatment and the cancer can result in muscle loss. The researchers encourage early nutrition intervention.
Fish Oil
HealthDay News, a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, published a press release in February 2011 regarding the benefits of fish oil supplements in preventing muscle loss and malnutrition in patients receiving chemotherapy. Although the study was small, researchers have hope that fish oil may prevent muscle loss, weight loss and battle fatigue, and improve recovery and preserve quality of life after chemotherapy. Forty patients were divided into two groups, one receiving 10 weeks of chemotherapy and 2.2 g of the omega 3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic, or EPA, daily. The second group received chemotherapy without omega 3. The chemo-only group averaged a 5-lb. weight loss, while the fish oil group lost no weight. Seventy percent of the fish oil group either maintained or gained muscle mass, while less than 30 percent of the chemo-only group maintained muscle mass. The biggest gains in muscle mass were in those patients with the highest blood levels of EPA. The author warned that the levels of fish oil were very high and advised against taking supplements without the advice of your physician.
References
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Comparison of Different Nutrition Assessments and Body-composition Measurements in Detecting Malnutrition Among Gynecologic Cancer Patients; Brenda Laky, et al; June 2008
- American Cancer Society: Nutrition for the Person with Cancer During Treatment; August 2010
- "Singapore Medical Journal"; Nutritional Status of Cancer Patients Admitted for chemotherapy and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute; J. E. Montoya, et al; November 2010
- "Obstetrics and Gynecology"; Prognostic Nutritional Index in Relation to Hospital Stay in Women with Gynecologic Cancer; J. T. Santaso, et al; June 2000
- "International Journal of Colorectal Disease"; Chemotherapy is Linked to Severe Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Colorectal Cancer; M. G. Fakih, et al;
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Low Antioxidant Vitamin Intakes are Associated with Increases in Adverse Effects of Chemotherapy in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia; Deborah D. Kennedy, et al; June 2004
