Overview of nutritional approach in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: COVID-19 update

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the newly discovered SARS-CoV-2. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a high-risk procedure. The novelty of COVID-19 has created more uncertainty during all phases of HSCT. It is thought that HSCT patients taking immunosuppressive agents are more likely to contract COVID-19 than healthy individuals are. Appropriate care precautions should be taken with patients undergoing HSCT to minimize the risk of COVID-19, and appropriate treatment methods must be followed in patients infected with COVID-19. Malnutrition has become a significant problem in HSCT patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The causes of malnutrition in HSCT patients are multifactorial. However, the most important reason is the decrease in energy and nutrient intake. The HSCT procedure can lead to many complications such as dysgeusia, mucositis, diarrhea, constipation, xerostomia and vomiting/nausea. Improving the nutritional status of HSCT patients by managing each of these special complications with an appropriate nutritional approach is essential for successful engraftment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the specific complications affecting the nutritional status of HSCT patients and their nutritional approach during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic.

Metabolically Primed Multipotent Hematopoietic Progenitors Fuel Innate Immunity

“…Our data can also help to inform the development of nutrient/metabolite biomarker panels for stem cell function. Such tools can inform dietary interventions to promote HSPC function, particularly in prospective recipients of bone marrow transplants, a high-risk procedure that can lead to malnutrition and significant nutrient deficiencies 61,62 . Lastly, our results suggest that therapeutic interventions to alter the metabolism of HSPCs may not target all cells uniformly, given their underlying metabolic heterogeneity.…”