Effects of cancer on nutrition.Impaired organ system effects

Abstract

The specific organ system effects of cancer and its treatment have been reviewed from the standpoint of nutritional impact. Nutritional impairment may occur as the result of specific organ system malfunction, and malnutrition itself may impair organ system functions in such a way as to compound these deficits. Nonmalignant, acute, and chronic illnesses resemble cancer in many ways, particularly in their ability to produce malnutrition and these organ system malfunctions. It is apparent that there is nothing particularly unique about many of these cancer states, from the standpoint of nutritional deficiency, that is not found in nonneoplastic conditions.

Nutritional consequences of the radiotherapy of head and neck cancer

“…The lack of correlation between subjective awareness of taste loss and measured taste loss prior to radiotherapy suggests that gradual changes in taste acuity may not be readily perceived by the patient. However, the correlation of subjective awareness and measured taste ( 16) Breads and cereals ( I I ) Coffee, tea (9) Difficult-to-eat foods* Tough foods--meats ( 2 6 ) Hard/fried foods (2 I ) Salads, fruits, and vegetables ( 1 2 ) Dry foods-breads, cereals ( 9 ) Citrus fruits, juices ( 6 ) Sweets ( abnormalities during therapy suggests that rapid changes in taste are commonly perceived by the patient. '…”

Metabolic Approaches to Cancer Cachexia

“…Gastrointestinal malabsorption occurs frequently in clinical cancer and contributes significantly to the wasting (74). The malabsorption is usually caused either by treatment (resection of a portion of the GI tract, or enteropathic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs or irradiation) or by the metabolic infiltration of mesenteric lymphatics, or by the nonspecifi c intesti nal atrophy caused by semistarvation.…”

Outcomes of an enteral feeding protocol in pediatric cancer patients: a non-randomized clinical trial

“…1 The importance of nutrition is based on the fact that organ functions are more adequately maintained if the nutritional status is preserved. [2][3][4] Although some adaptive mechanisms might preserve life in malnourished patients, malnourished children with cancer have their organ systems damaged also by toxins from antineoplastic drugs. The ability of the liver and gastrointestinal tract to absorb and metabolize drugs and nutrients may be impaired under conditions of malnutrition.…”

“…The ability of the liver and gastrointestinal tract to absorb and metabolize drugs and nutrients may be impaired under conditions of malnutrition. 3,4 Both cancer therapy and malnutrition lead to immune function damage, thus increasing the risk of infections and morbiditymortality. [5][6][7] Gastrointestinal side effects from the treatment, like severe nausea (grade 3 or 4) and vomiting, mucositis (sore mouth or throat), diarrhoea and constipation, are the main nutritional difficulties.…”