Assessment of Nutritional and Inflammatory Status to Determine the Prevalence of Malnutrition in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Colorectal Carcinoma.
Colorectal Cancer is the fourth most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide and its incidence increases from 50 years of age. It is often associated with protein-caloric malnutrition and 20% of cancer deaths occur due to this event. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and inflammatory status in 78 patients undergoing surgery for colorectal carcinoma.



Nutritional Status was assessed by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA, while albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and transferrin (TRF) were tested using an immunometric assay.



The mean MNA score in colorectal patients was 20.4±8.4, while 23/78 patients (29.4%) were well nourished, 36/78 (46.1%) were at risk of malnutrition and 19/78 (24.3%) were malnourished, reporting in the previous six months from the date of diagnosis a significant weight loss (>10 kg), muscle mass loss and severe reduction of food intake due to loss of appetite and altered taste perception. The serum means of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP, were significantly higher in colorectal patients compared to the control group (p<0.001, p<0.0001, p<0.0001, respectively) while lower TRF, albumin and HCT serum levels in cancer patients vs. healthy subjects (p<0.0001; p<0.0001 and p<0.0001) were found.



more than 50% of colorectal cancer patients were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and reported an imbalance between nutritional and inflammatory status. They, therefore, require a nutritional intervention before treatment in order to have a more effective response and improve quality of life.
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy antonella27@inwind.it.
Antonella
A
Daniele
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
Rosa
R
Divella
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
Ines
I
Abbate
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
Addolorata
A
Casamassima
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
Vito Michele
VM
Garrisi
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
Eufemia
E
Savino
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
Porzia
P
Casamassima
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
Eustachio
E
Ruggieri
National Cancer Research Centre, Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Bari, Italy.
Raffaele
R
DE Luca
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001066:Appetite; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014168:Transferrin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
Mini nutritional assessment; colorectal cancer; cytokines; inflammatory markers; malnutrition