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Review
. 2024 Dec;13(4):950-965.
doi: 10.1007/s13668-024-00578-0. Epub 2024 Sep 15.

The Importance of Nutrition in Cancer Care: A Narrative Review

Camilla Horn Soares  1   2 , Amanda Guterres Beuren  1   2 , Heloisa Jacques Friedrich  2   3 , Carolina Pagnoncelli Gabrielli  1   2 , Giovanna Potrick Stefani  1   2 , Thais Steemburgo  4   5   6
Affiliations
Review

The Importance of Nutrition in Cancer Care: A Narrative Review

Camilla Horn Soares et al. Curr Nutr Rep. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Cancer, a complex disease affecting millions globally, presents considerable challenges for both patients and health care providers. Within the broad spectrum of cancer care, nutrition plays a key role in supporting patients throughout their journey. This narrative review examines the role of nutrition in cancer care, exploring its impact on treatment outcomes, nutritional status, current dietary recommendations, physical activity, palliative care, and finally, as a nutritional encouragement for cancer survivors.

Recent findings: Evidence indicates that cancer and anticancer treatments frequently cause malnutrition and loss of muscle mass, which can exacerbate symptoms, impair immune function, and hamper recovery. Therefore, adequate nutritional support is crucial for maintaining strength, controlling symptoms, and optimizing treatment tolerance in patients with cancer. Several factors influence nutritional needs and dietary recommendations, including cancer type, treatment, and individual patient characteristics. Nutritional care aims not only to ensure sufficient energy and protein intake, but also to manage specific symptoms such as dysgeusia, nausea, and dysphagia. Registered dietitians play a crucial role in providing personalized nutritional guidance, monitoring nutritional status, and implementing interventions to address emerging challenges in cancer care. Furthermore, recent research has underscored the benefits of dietary interventions in cancer treatment. From targeted nutritional supplements to more invasive nutritional support, interest in how nutrition can affect cancer risk and treatment outcomes is increasing. Overall, this review highlights the critical role of nutritional care in comprehensive cancer treatment. By recognizing and meeting dietary demands throughout the entire cancer journey, health care professionals can improve patients' well-being, response to treatment, and long-term prognosis.

Keywords: Cancer; Care; Nutrition; Nutritional interventions; Nutritional recommendations.

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