Radiation patients benefit from nutrition talks

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Nutrition counseling significantly improves the intake of key nutrients and may help ward off malnutrition in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, a study shows.

"Nutritional issues need to be considered during the planning stages of a patient's treatment, as we know they impact on outcomes," Dr. Elisabeth A. Isenring from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia told Reuters Health. "We know it is easier to minimize deteriorations in nutritional status rather than treating patients who are already malnourished."

Isenring and colleagues investigated the impact of a nutrition program developed by the American Dietetic Association compared with standard practice. The dietary intake of protein, energy and fiber was assessed in 54 subjects at baseline and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The patients were undergoing radiation for cancers in the gastrointestinal or head and neck area.

At the end of 12 weeks, the nutrition intervention group had significantly higher average energy and protein intakes, and a nonsignificant increase in fiber intake, compared with the standard practice group, the researchers report.

More patients in the nutrition intervention group than in the standard practice group were assessed as well-nourished and fewer were assessed as malnourished.

Moreover, the nutrition intervention group experienced a significantly smaller decrease and faster recovery in overall quality of life and physical function.

The findings are published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The author of a commentary on the study notes that head and neck cancer survivors are "high risk and can benefit from early and continued individualized nutrition interventions with a registered dietitian, starting before therapy begins, continuing through therapy, and after completion for at least 1 year or up to 3 years or more."

"All outpatient cancer care programs need to have in place a nutrition supportive care service staffed by a registered oncology dietitian, who is easily accessible and can work with patients and their families, especially those who are identified as being at high nutrition risk," Dianne Kiyomoto from the California Cancer Center, Fresno, writes.

SOURCE: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, March 2007.