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Review
. 2016 May;2(4):195-202.
doi: 10.1159/000442873. Epub 2016 Jan 8.

Nutrition in Pancreatic Cancer: A Review

Simone Gärtner  1 , Janine Krüger  1 , Ali A Aghdassi  1 , Antje Steveling  1 , Peter Simon  1 , Markus M Lerch  1 , Julia Mayerle  1
Affiliations
Review

Nutrition in Pancreatic Cancer: A Review

Simone Gärtner et al. Gastrointest Tumors. 2016 May.

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.

Summary: 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.

Key message: 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.

Practical implications: 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.

Keywords: Enteral nutrition; L-Carnitine; Omega-3 fatty acids; Pancreatic cancer; Parenteral nutrition.

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