title: Nutrition in Pancreatic Cancer: A Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in both genders. More than 80% of patients suffer from significant weight loss at diagnosis and over time develop severe cachexia. Early nutritional support is therefore essential.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review evaluates the different nutritional therapies, such as enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition and special nutritional supplements, on nutritional status, quality of life and survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the high prevalence of malnutrition and the rapid development of anorexia-cachexia-syndrome, early nutritional intervention is crucial and supported by clinical data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enteral nutrition should be preferred over parenteral nutrition. Omega-3 fatty acids and l-carnitine are promising substances for the prevention of severe cachexia, but further randomized controlled trials are needed to establish generally accepted guidelines on nutrition in pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gärtner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aghdassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Antje
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steveling
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lerch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayerle
keywords: Enteral nutrition; L-Carnitine; Omega-3 fatty acids; Pancreatic cancer; Parenteral nutrition