Clin Nutr Res.  2016 Oct;5(4):219-236. 10.7762/cnr.2016.5.4.219.

The Efficacy of Oral Nutritional Intervention in Malnourished Cancer Patients: a Systemic Review

• Kim JM
• Sung MK

• KMID: 2355295
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2016.5.4.219

Abstract

Cancer is currently a leading cause of deaths worldwide and the number of new cases is growing rapidly in both, developed and developing countries. Nutritional management during and after cancer treatment affects treatment efficacy and patient quality of life (QOL). This review systemically examined the effect of oral nutritional interventions on nutritional and clinical outcomes in cancer patients. We especially focused on outcomes such as nutritional status indices, immune-associated biochemical markers, and QOL assessments to provide insights on the applicability of different outcomes. A total of 28 papers were selected for systematic review. The nutritional composition of oral nutritional supplements (ONS), outcome measures, and efficacy of the oral nutritional interventions were summarized and discussed. Most ONS contain 1 or more functional components in addition to basic nutrients. Each study used various outcome measures and significant efficacy was observed for a limited number of measures. Nutritional status indices, QOL measures, and the duration of hospital stay improved in about 40% of the studies. One or more markers of immune function and inflammatory responses were improved by ONS in 65% of the selected studies. These results suggest that appropriate use of ONS may be an ideal way to improve treatment efficacy; however, additional intervention trials are required to confirm these findings.

Keyword

Enteral nutrition; Nutritional status; Neoplasm; Formula

MeSH Terms

Biomarkers
Cause of Death
Developing Countries
Enteral Nutrition
Humans
Length of Stay
Nutritional Status
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Quality of Life
Treatment Outcome
Biomarkers

Figure

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  Figure 1 Flowchart of the article-selection process. Search strategy and number of trials identified for inclusion in the literature review. The searches were performed between November 2001 and May 2015. The search strategy evolved in line with the changes in information technology and was designed with advice from information specialists. The databases searched in the study included Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), and the Elsevier database of abstracts and citations (SCOPUS).

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