Randomized trial of the effects of individual nutritional counseling in cancer patients

Summary Background & aims Cancer-related malnutrition is multifactorial and related to a bad prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intensive, individual dietary counseling of patients in radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for gynecologic-, gastric-, or esophageal cancer. Methods 61 outpatients were stratified by diagnoses and randomly assigned to one of two groups (G1; n  = 32 and G2; n  = 29). The basic regimen, applied to both groups, included measurement of body weight, 24-h dietary recall interview, micronutrient status and quality of life. In addition G1 received intensive, individual dietary counseling one hour per week and, if the patient accepted, a daily oral nutritional supplement containing 2531 kJ, 33.8 g protein and 2.2 g EPA. Results At the end of the treatment period, significantly fewer patients had lost weight in the intervention group (mean: 44% vs. 72%, p p p p Conclusion In these cancer patients, intensive, individual dietary counseling was associated with a better weight maintenance and a higher provision of adequate amounts of protein and energy. The intervention had no significant effects on patients' quality of life, incidence of treatment-related side effects or appearance of micronutrient deficiencies.