title: Randomized trial of the effects of individual nutritional counseling in cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer-related malnutrition is multifactorial and related to a bad prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intensive, individual dietary counseling of patients in radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for gynecologic-, gastric-, or esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  61 outpatients were stratified by diagnoses and randomly assigned to one of two groups (G1; n = 32 and G2; n = 29). The basic regimen, applied to both groups, included measurement of body weight, 24-h dietary recall interview, micronutrient status and quality of life. In addition G1 received intensive, individual dietary counseling one hour per week and, if the patient accepted, a daily oral nutritional supplement containing 2531 kJ, 33.8 g protein and 2.2 g EPA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the treatment period, significantly fewer patients had lost weight in the intervention group (mean: 44% vs. 72%, p < 0.05), and the fulfillment of estimated energy requirements was better during treatment (mean: 107% vs. 95%, p < 0.05). A significant positive effect was observed on the fulfillment of protein requirement, both during the treatment period (mean: 92% vs. 71%, p < 0.001) and at follow-up (mean: 86% vs. 71%, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In these cancer patients, intensive, individual dietary counseling was associated with a better weight maintenance and a higher provision of adequate amounts of protein and energy. The intervention had no significant effects on patients' quality of life, incidence of treatment-related side effects or appearance of micronutrient deficiencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Nutrition Unit 5711, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen Oe, Denmark.
authors.forename: Grith M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Nutrition Unit 5711, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen Oe, Denmark.
authors.forename: Louise L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology 5073, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen Oe, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kell
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Østerlind
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology 5073, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen Oe, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bæksgaard
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, DK-1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; Nutrition Unit 5711, Rigshospitalet, DK-2100 Copenhagen Oe, Denmark. Electronic address: jra@life.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Jens R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Andersen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003376:Counseling; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D044623:Nutrition Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients
keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy; Dietary counseling; Nutrition; Quality of life; Radiotherapy