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Changes in nutritional status and dietary intake during and after head and neck cancer treatment
Author(s) -
JagerWittenaar Harriët,
Dijkstra Pieter U.,
Vissink Arjan,
Langendijk Johannes A.,
van der Laan Bernard F.A.M.,
Pruim Jan,
Roodenburg Jan L.N.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21546
Subject(s) - lean body mass , medicine , head and neck cancer , body weight , cancer , head and neck , weight loss , food intake , radiation therapy , body mass index , zoology , surgery , obesity , biology
Background. The purpose of this study was to test whether nutritional status of patients with head and neck cancer changes during and after treatment. Methods. Nutritional status (including body weight, lean mass, and fat mass) and dietary intake were assessed in 29 patients with head and neck cancer. Patients were assessed 1 week before, and 1 and 4 months after treatment (radiotherapy, either alone or combined with chemotherapy or surgery). Results. During treatment, body weight (−3.6 ± 5.3 kg; p = .019) and lean mass (−2.43 ± 2.81 kg; p = .001) significantly declined. Patients with sufficient intake (≥35 kcal and ≥1.5 grams protein/kg body weight) lost less body weight and lean mass than patients with insufficient intake (mean difference, −4.0 ± 1.9 kg; p = 0.048 and −2.1 ± 1.0 kg; p = .054, respectively). After treatment, only patients with sufficient intake gained body weight (2.3 ± 2.3 kg) and lean mass (1.2 ± 1.3 kg). Conclusion. Patients with head and neck cancer fail to maintain or improve nutritional status during treatment, despite sufficient intake. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011