Dietary treatment of weight loss in patients with advanced cancer and cachexia: a systematic literature review.
OBJECTIVE
A systematical literature review evaluating the effect of dietary counseling in treating weight loss and improving energy intake in patients with advanced cancer with different stages of cachexia.


RESULTS
Five publications were retrieved, of which three were randomized. Two out of five studies showed less weight loss with dietary counseling (+1% weight gain vs. -1.5% weight loss, p=0.03, 1.4kg vs. -2kg, p<0.05), two presented positive effect on energy intake (92% of total caloric need vs. 73%, p<0.01, 1865±317kcal vs. 1556±497kcal, ns).


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary counseling can effect energy intake and body weight, however, apparent heterogeneity between studies is present. Based on these results there is not enough proof of evidence that dietary counseling given to patients with cancer is beneficial for improving weight or energy balance in the different cachexia stages. Nutrition is an essential part of cachexia treatment as it is not considered possible to increase or stabilize weight if nutritional needs are not met.
European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Trude R
TR
Balstad
European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Oncology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
Tora S
TS
Solheim
Oncological Palliative Medicine, Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Palliative Care Center, Cantonal Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Florian
F
Strasser
European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Oncology, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
Stein
S
Kaasa
Regional Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Health, Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: asta.bye@hioa.no.
Asta
A
Bye
D002100:Cachexia / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D009752:Nutritional Status
Cachexia; Cancer; Dietary counseling; Energy intake; Nutritional status; Weight loss