Detailed Dietary Assessment in Patients with Inoperable Tumors: Potential Deficits for Nutrition Care Plans

Abstract

Advanced cancer often results in reduced dietary intake; however, data on actual intake at the time of diagnosis are limited. In the present study, a detailed dietary intake assessment was performed in patients with metastatic lung and upper gastrointestinal cancer, before initiation of systemic therapy. Basic demographics and performance status (PS) were recorded. Nutritional status was evaluated through anthropometry, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and 3 nonconsecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Of the 84 patients enrolled, 61.4% were protein, energy, or protein-energy undernourished, regardless of body mass index (BMI) or MNA category. No differences in energy, macronutrients, and micronutrients intakes across BMI categories were recorded. Very low consumption of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), irrespective of energy intake, tumor site, BMI category, or PS was found. Suboptimal micronutrients intakes were recorded even in well-nourished and overweight/obese patients. Patients with adequate PS and better MNA score reported significantly higher intake of certain macro- and micronutrients (all P < 0.05). Most patients exhibited reduced dietary intake in terms of energy, macronutrient, and micronutrient. Very low EPA and DHA intake was recorded for the whole sample, whereas micronutrient suboptimal intakes were also prevalent in well-nourished or overweight patients. All the above should be taken into account during patients' nutritional care.

Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Predicts Survival in Gastric Cancer Patients With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (PD-1/PD-L1) Outcomes

“…In gastric cancer patients, the biomarkers of body composition, such as degree of sarcopenia, BMI, and visceral fat, have been demonstrated to be related to tumor prognosis (Imai et al, 2017;Feng et al, 2020;Loehrer et al, 2020). There is good evidence that prognosis of cancer is not only associated with tumor indicators but also patients' condition, systemic inflammation, and nutritional status (Diakos et al, 2014;Vidra et al, 2016;Garla et al, 2018). Although surgery is the main treatment for gastric cancer, a considerable number of patients will relapse after radical resection.…”

Effect of chocolate on older patients with cancer in palliative care: a randomised controlled study

“…The nutritional status was evaluated by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA): a method used for the geriatric population [ 17 ] and validated for the Brazilian population [ 18 ]. MNA is a screening and diagnostic tool that was built to assess malnutrition, but it also assesses other domains such as mobility, number of medications and cognitive function.…”

Effect of Chocolate on Older Cancer Patients in Palliative Care: A Randomised Controlled Study

“…-Nutritional status: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), a method used for the geriatric population [17] and validated for the Brazilian population [18].…”