Learned food aversions among cancer chemotherapy patients. Incidence, nature, and clinical implications

Abstract

The current study documents the incidence of chemotherapy-related food aversions in defined patient populations and characterizes selected aspects of the problem. The association between the incidence of food aversions and patient outcome was also evaluated. Seventy-six primarily breast and lung cancer patients were interviewed before and at stipulated time points for 6 months after their initial course of chemotherapy. Learned food aversions (LFA) were documented via open-ended questionnaires and ratings for foods ingested during the 48-hour period surrounding the first day of treatment. Treatment-related aversions were observed in over 50% of the patients and involved all food groups. The aversions generally occurred shortly after the first course of chemotherapy, were food-specific and of short duration. No strong association was observed between the incidence of food aversions and treatment outcome measures, but quality of life issues warrant further consideration.

Food preferences and aversions in human health and nutrition: how can pigs help the biomedical research?

“…One of the interesting strategies developed as a result of the study of food aversions in humans is the 'scapegoat' technique (Broberg and Bernstein, 1987;Mattes et al, 1987;Stockhorst et al, 1998). This technique is based on the overshadowing principle underlying the principles of the classical conditioning technique (Pavlov, 1960).…”

“…Thereby, after some pairings of CS) and US, some anticipatory symptoms may occur before the onset of the infusion, which clearly indicates conditioning (Stockhorst et al, 1998;Stockhorst et al, 2007). Holmes (1993) reported that 82% of patients under chemotherapy developed food avoidance, whereas, according to Mattes et al (1987), over 50% of patients developed a food aversion after chemotherapy. Moreover, a reduction in taste sensitivity (hypogeusia), an absence of taste sensation (ageusia) or a change in taste sensitivity (dysgeusia) often occurs in patients receiving radiotherapy against cancers (Ripamonti et al, 1998;Berteretche et al, 2004).…”

“…According to Schwartz et al (1996), it seems that the presence of nausea following chemotherapy administration is correlated with a decrease in hedonic rating towards food but not with a decrease in consumption. Mattes et al (1987) also suggest that nausea and vomiting may not be essential stimuli for the acquisition of conditioned food aversions. Antiemetic medications during chemotherapy may also be ineffective in preventing the development of aversion to foods, and thereby ineffective in increasing food intake (Schwartz et al, 1996).…”

Aversão alimentar adquirida e qualidade de vida em mulheres com neoplasia mamária

“…Os protocolos quimioterápicos disponíveis estão associados ao desenvolvimento de aversões alimentares, que resultam da associação entre o mal-estar promovido pelo tratamento e o alimento simultaneamente consumido 10,11 . Por meio da menor diversidade dos alimentos consumidos, a aversão alimentar adquirida pode exercer um papel prejudicial tanto no estado nutricional, quanto na qualidade de vida das pacientes com câncer 11 .…”

“…Por meio da menor diversidade dos alimentos consumidos, a aversão alimentar adquirida pode exercer um papel prejudicial tanto no estado nutricional, quanto na qualidade de vida das pacientes com câncer 11 .…”