title: Compliance with nutrition prescription improves outcomes in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are few well-designed studies evaluating the effect of oral nutrition supplements in patients with cancer cachexia. The aim of this study, in a posthoc analysis, was to examine the effect of dietary compliance on intake and body composition in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred patients were randomised to receive 2 cans/day of a protein and energy dense, oral nutrition supplement+/-n-3 fatty acids in an international, multi-centre randomised trial over 8 weeks. Dietary compliance was defined a priori as consumption of a minimum of 1.5 cans/day of either supplement. Body composition, dietary intake and quality of life were measured at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, there were significant differences in energy intake (501 kcal), protein intake (25.4 g) and weight (1.7 kg) between patients who were compliant with the nutrition prescription compared to noncompliant patients controlling for n-3 fatty acid randomisation, baseline weight and quality of life. Over the 8-week period, there was significant improvement in weight only. There was no significant difference in the energy intake from meals of the total group over the 8 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compliance with the prescription of 1.5 cans of a protein and energy dense, oral nutrition supplement +/-n-3 fatty acids improved nutrition related outcomes in untreated pancreatic cancer patients. This level of supplement intake does not inhibit meal intake.
authors.affiliation: The Wesley Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia. judithba@wesley.com.au
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Capra
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Battistutta
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ash
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002100:Cachexia / Q000628:therapy; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3