Nutritional Interventions in the Treatment of Cancer Cachexia: a literature review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55892/jrg.v8i18.1891Keywords:
Cachexia, Neoplasms, Diet therapy, Quality of life, Nutritional statusAbstract
Objective: Cancer cachexia is a debilitating condition associated with cancer, characterized by weight loss, muscle mass depletion, and metabolic disorders, negatively impacting patients' quality of life. This review aimed to analyze nutritional interventions in the management of cancer cachexia, focusing on supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, specialized diets and nutritional counseling. Methodology: Clinical and observational studies published in the last 15 years were selected from the PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Results: The analysis revealed that omega-3 supplementation contributes to body weight stabilization and systemic inflammation reduction, although it has not shown a significant impact on cachexia reversal. Specialized diets, such as the Mediterranean diet, have been more effective in preserving muscle mass and improving functionality compared to conventional hospital diets. Personalized nutritional counseling presented contradictory results, possibly due to the advanced stage of the disease in the studied patients. TPN proved effective in patients with impaired oral intake, but the composition of nutritional substrates directly influenced outcomes. Conclusion: Although the results indicate that individualized nutritional strategies can improve quality of life and nutritional status, the heterogeneity of studies and the lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria for cancer cachexia highlight the need for further research with methodological rigor, diagnostic standardization, and long-term follow-up.
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