Metabolic, nutritional and inflammatory characteristics in elderly women with advanced cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have focused on the metabolic profiling of patients with advanced cancer and the relationship with nutritional and inflammatory characteristics, which have important diagnostic, treatment and prognostic implications, particularly in the elderly. Our objective was to determine differences in energy expenditure during rest and activity, body composition, nutrition, and inflammatory markers between healthy elderly females and those with advanced cancer.


METHODS
Twenty elderly (74.8±6.7years) females (9 with solid malignancies, 11 healthy) were evaluated for energy expenditure using indirect calorimetry at rest and throughout a 6-min walk test (6MWT). Body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry); nutritional intake (3-day 24-h food recall); and markers of nutrition and inflammation (complete blood count, albumin and C-reactive protein) were also measured.


RESULTS
Compared to healthy controls, patients with cancer had similar energy expenditures, but significantly lower (p<0.05) respiratory quotients at rest. During the 6MWT, the group with cancer walked shorter distances at slower speeds (p<0.001), consumed less oxygen (p<0.05), and trended toward an increased oxygen cost while walking. The patients with cancer ingested fewer calories and presented with higher levels of inflammatory markers (p<0.05). No differences in body composition were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Early signs of cachexia (i.e. reduced caloric intake, inflammation and greater fat metabolism) may be present in older patients with cancer, along with poorer levels of functional capacity, compared to healthy controls. Timely recognition of these signs may allow therapeutic interventions to better prevent or delay nutritional and functional demise in elderly patients with cancer.
McGill Nutrition and Performance Laboratory, 5252 de Maisonneuve W, Suite 105-B, Montreal, QC, Canada H4A 3S5.
Barbara
B
Trutschnigg
Robert D
RD
Kilgour
José A
JA
Morais
Enriqueta
E
Lucar
Laura
L
Hornby
Haneen
H
Molla
Antonio
A
Vigano
D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein