Associations between Dietary Patterns and Malnutrition, Low Muscle Mass and Sarcopenia in Adults with Cancer: A Scoping Review

Associations Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Incident Sarcopenia in Prospective Cohort Studies

The loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, known as sarcopenia, is prevalent in older adults and linked to an increased risk of disability, frailty, and early mortality. Muscle health is crucial for the functionality and independence of older adults. As the aging population continuously grows, finding cost-effective strategies for preventing and treating sarcopenia is an important public health priority. While nutrition is recognized as a key factor in the development of sarcopenia, its role in preventing and treating the condition is still under investigation. In recent decades, nutritional research has shifted from a focus on individual nutrients or healthy foods to examining the combination of nutrients and foods in dietary patterns, along with their potential synergistic and antagonistic effects. A balanced diet and regular participation in physical activity are essential for maintaining musculoskeletal health. One of the healthy eating patterns with the greatest evidence of multiple health benefits is the Mediterranean diet, which has also been linked to positive effects on muscle function in observational studies. However, there is a lack of intervention studies. This review explores the updated evidence from longitudinal prospective studies on associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and sarcopenia in order to promote preventive and intervention strategies for healthy muscle aging.

Phase Angle and Ultrasound Assessment of the Rectus Femoris for Predicting Malnutrition and Sarcopenia in Patients with Esophagogastric Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Disease-related malnutrition (DRM) and sarcopenia are prevalent conditions in gastrointestinal cancer patients, whose early diagnosis is essential to establish a nutritional treatment that contributes to optimizing adverse outcomes and improving prognosis. Phase angle (PhA) and rectus femoris ultrasound measurements are considered effort-independent markers of muscle wasting, which remains unrecognized in oncology patients.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the potential utility of PhA, rectus femoris cross-sectional area (RFCSA), and rectus femoris thickness (RF-Y-axis) in predicting malnutrition and sarcopenia in patients with esophagogastric cancer (EGC).

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with EGC. PhA was obtained using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) along with ASMMI. The RFCSA and RF-Y-axis were measured using nutritional ultrasound (NU®). Muscle capacity was assessed using handgrip strength (HGS), and functionality by applying the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Malnutrition and sarcopenia were determined according to the GLIM and EWGSOP2 criteria, respectively.

RESULTS

Out of the 35 patients evaluated, 82.8% had malnutrition and 51.4% had sarcopenia. The RFCSA (r = 0.582) and RF-Y-axis (r = 0.602) showed significant, moderate correlations with ASMMI, unlike PhA (r = 0.439), which displayed a weak correlation with this parameter. However, PhA (OR = 0.167, CI 95%: 0.047-0.591, p = 0.006), RFCSA (OR = 0.212, CI 95%: 0.074-0.605, p = 0.004), and RF-Y-axis (OR = 0.002, CI 95%: 0.000-0.143, p = 0.004) all showed good predicting ability for sarcopenia in the crude models, but only the RF-Y-axis was able to explain malnutrition in the regression model (OR = 0.002, CI 95%: 0.000-0.418, p = 0.023).

CONCLUSIONS

The RF-Y-axis emerged as the only independent predictor of both malnutrition and sarcopenia in this study, likely due to its stronger correlation with ASMMI compared to PhA and RFCSA.

Dietary patterns, malnutrition, muscle loss and sarcopenia in cancer survivors: findings from the UK Biobank

PURPOSE

To identify dietary patterns derived from protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and vitamin D and examine associations with malnutrition, low muscle mass and sarcopenia in cancer survivors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included cancer survivors (n = 2415) from the UK Biobank (age [mean ± SD] 59.7 ± 7.1 years; 60.7% female). The Oxford WebQ 24-h dietary assessment estimated food and nutrient intakes. Reduced rank regression derived dietary patterns (response variables: protein [g/kg/day], PUFA [g/day] and vitamin D [μg/day]). Adjusted logistic regression analysis examined associations between dietary patterns and malnutrition, low muscle mass and sarcopenia.

RESULTS

Three dietary patterns were identified: (i) 'high oily fish and nuts', characterised by higher oily fish and nuts and seeds intake; (ii) 'low oily fish', characterised by lower oily fish intake and higher potato intake; and (iii) 'meat and dairy', characterised by higher intake of meat, poultry and dairy. Eighteen percent of participants were malnourished, 5% had low muscle mass and 6.5% had sarcopenia. Odds of being malnourished were significantly lower with adherence to a 'high oily fish and nuts' pattern (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.65) and 'low oily fish' pattern (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73, 0.90). The 'meat and dairy' pattern was not associated with malnutrition. No dietary patterns were associated with low muscle mass or sarcopenia.

CONCLUSIONS

Energy-rich dietary patterns were associated with lower odds of malnutrition in cancer survivors but did not influence muscle mass or sarcopenia risk.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Better understanding of dietary patterns may improve cancer-related outcomes for cancer survivors.

The multifactorial effect of obesity on the effectiveness and outcomes of cancer therapies

Epidemiology studies have demonstrated a clear association between obesity and the development of several distinct malignancies, with excessive visceral adiposity being an increasingly prevalent feature in patients with cancer presenting for therapeutic intervention. Clinical trials and meta-analyses have helped to inform effective and safe dosing of traditional systemically administered anticancer agents in adult patients with cancer and obesity, but there remains much debate not only regarding the effect of obesity on the more novel targeted molecular and immune-based therapies, but also about how obesity is best defined and measured clinically. Low muscle mass is associated with poor outcomes in cancer, and body composition studies using biochemical and imaging modalities are helping to fully delineate the importance of both obesity and sarcopenia in clinical outcomes; such studies might also go some way to explaining how obesity can paradoxically be associated with favourable clinical outcomes in certain cancers. As the cancer survivorship period increases and the duration of anticancer treatment lengthens, this Review highlights the challenges facing appropriate treatment selection and emphasizes how a multidisciplinary approach is warranted to manage weight and skeletal muscle loss during and after cancer treatment.

Risk factors for low muscle mass, malnutrition, and (probable-) sarcopenia in adults with or without a history of cancer in the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Early identification of people at risk of cancer-related malnutrition, low muscle mass (LMM) and sarcopenia is crucial to mitigate the impact of adverse outcomes. This study investigated risk factors associated with LMM, malnutrition and (probable-) sarcopenia and whether these varied in people with or without a history of cancer.

METHODS

Participants in the UK Biobank, with or without a history of cancer, who completed the Oxford WebQ at the baseline assessment were included. LMM was estimated from fat-free mass derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis, and low muscle strength from handgrip strength, and used to identify probable or confirmed sarcopenia following the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 definition. The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria were applied to determine malnutrition. Generalised linear models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) for associations between risk factors (clinical, functional, nutritional) and study outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 50,592 adults with (n = 2,287, mean ± SD 59.7 ± 7.1 years) or without (n = 48,305, mean ± SD 55.8 ± 8.2 years) cancer were included. For all participants (PRs [cancer, without cancer]), slow walking pace (PR 1.85; 1.99), multimorbidity (PR 1.72; 1.51), inflammation (PR 2.91; 2.07), and low serum 25(OH)D (PR 1.85, 1.44) were associated with higher prevalence of LMM, while higher energy intake (PR 0.55; 0.49) was associated with lower prevalence. Slow walking pace (PR 1.54 [cancer], 1.51 [without cancer]) and higher protein intake (PR 0.18 [cancer]; 0.11 [without cancer]) were associated with increased or decreased prevalence of malnutrition, respectively regardless of cancer status. Multimorbidity was the only common factor associated with higher prevalence (PR 1.79 [cancer], 1.68 [without cancer]) of (probable-)sarcopenia in all participants.

CONCLUSION

Risk factors for LMM and malnutrition were similar in adults with and without cancer, although these varied between LMM and malnutrition. These findings have implications for the future of risk stratification, screening and assessment for these conditions and the development or modification of existing screening tools.

Exploring dietitians' practice and perspectives on the role of dietary patterns during cancer treatment: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Dietitians are nutrition professionals equipped with specialised skills required to prevent and treat malnutrition in cancer. Optimisation of dietary intake is recommended as the primary nutrition strategy for the treatment of cancer-related malnutrition. However, it is unclear whether dietary patterns, described as the combination, quantity, and frequency of food consumption, are considered. This study examined dietitians' current food-based management of malnutrition; explored dietitians' awareness of dietary patterns and assessed barriers and enablers to the use of dietary patterns in clinical practice.

METHODS

This qualitative study consisted of semi-structured interviews with oncology dietitians. Dietitians were recruited through national nutrition societies, social media, and professional networks. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Fourteen oncology dietitians from across four Australian states and territories participated. Three themes were identified: (i) principles to guide nutritional care, (ii) dietary patterns as a gap in knowledge and practice, and (iii) opportunities for better care with systems as both a barrier and enabler. Dietetic practice was food-focussed, encouraging energy and protein-rich foods consistent with nutrient-focussed evidence-based guidelines. Dietitians encouraged one of two nutrition-related approaches, either encouraging intake of 'any tolerated food' or 'foods supportive on longer-term health'. Dietitians were generally unaware of dietary patterns and questioned their relevance in certain clinical situations. A multidisciplinary team approach, adequate food service and dissemination of dietary patterns research and education were identified as opportunities for better patient care.

CONCLUSIONS

Recommendations for the treatment of malnutrition vary between oncology dietitians and uncertainty exists regarding dietary patterns and their relevance in clinical practice. Further exploration into the role of dietary patterns to treat cancer-related malnutrition and education for dietitians are required prior to implementation of a dietary patterns approach into clinical practice.

Development and validation of risk prediction model for sarcopenia in patients with colorectal cancer

Objectives

Sarcopenia is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. However, the clinical factors that lead to colorectal cancer patients with sarcopenia are still unclear. The objective of this study is to develop and validate a nomogram for predicting the occurrence of sarcopenia and to provide healthcare professionals with a reliable tool for early identification of high-risk patients with colorectal cancer associated sarcopenia.

Methods

A total of 359 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer from July 2021 to May 2022 were included. All patients were randomly divided into a training (n = 287) cohort and a validation cohort (n = 72) at the ratio of 80/20. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were performed to evaluate the factors associated with sarcopenia. The diagnostic nomogram of sarcopenia in patients with colorectal cancer was constructed in the training cohort and validated in the validation cohort. Various evaluation metrics were employed to assess the performance of the developed nomogram, including the ROC curve, calibration curve, and Hosmer-Lemeshow test.

Results

Smoking history, drinking history, diabetes, TNM stage, nutritional status, and physical activity were included in the nomogram for the prediction of sarcopenia. The diagnostic nomograms demonstrated excellent discrimination, with AUC values of 0.971 and 0.922 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Moreover, the calibration performance of the nomogram is also excellent, as evidenced by the Hosmer-Lemeshow test result of 0.886.

Conclusions

The nomogram consisting of preoperative factors was able to successfully predict the occurrence of sarcopenia in colorectal cancer patients, aiding in the early identification of high-risk patients and facilitating timely implementation of appropriate intervention measures.

Hematologic toxicities, sarcopenia, and body composition change in breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy

PURPOSE

Evaluation of body composition and sarcopenia status could provide evidence for more sensitive prediction of chemotherapy toxicities and support mitigation of the negative impacts of chemotherapy. This study evaluated associations among hematologic toxicities, sarcopenia, and body composition change in breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study employed data from 298 breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We evaluated two abdominal computed tomography scans before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy to identify body composition change. As hematologic toxicities, severe (grade 3 or 4) anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia were assessed throughout the treatment period using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 5.0).

RESULTS

Participants experienced severe neutropenia (23.5%), anemia (7.1%), and thrombocytopenia (0.7%) during chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, the group with sarcopenia had double the anemia prevalence of the group without sarcopenia (p < 0.001). The group with anemia had significantly decreased skeletal muscle index (SMI, p = .0013) and subcutaneous fat index (SFI, p = .0008). Almost 50% of the sarcopenia group treated with an AC-T (weekly) regimen (combined anthracycline and cyclophosphamide followed by a weekly taxane) had neutropenia. Multiple logistic regression showed that the AC-T (weekly) group had higher neutropenia prevalence than other regimen groups.

CONCLUSION

Our findings of higher anemia prevalence in breast cancer patients with sarcopenia and decreased SMI and SFI after neoadjuvant chemotherapy provide evidence of a relationship between anemia and body composition change. Early screening and combined consideration of body composition change, sarcopenia status, and chemotherapy regimen could improve clinical outcomes.

Mediterranean Diet and Sarcopenia Features in Apparently Healthy Adults over 65 Years: A Systematic Review

Low muscle mass combined with changes in physical function and muscle quality is defined as sarcopenia. In people > 60 years, sarcopenia reaches 10% and tends to increase with age. Individual nutrients, such as protein, may have a protective role against sarcopenia, but recent evidence suggests that protein alone has been ineffective in increasing muscle strength. Dietary patterns, instead, with a high "anti-inflammatory" potential, such as the Mediterranean dietary pattern, have been considered as an emerging dietary remedy against sarcopenia. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the evidence of the role of Mediterranean diet in sarcopenia prevention and/or improvement, including recent data, in healthy elders. We searched published studies about sarcopenia and the Mediterranean diet until December 2022 in Pubmed, Cochrane, Scopus search engine and grey literature. In total, ten articles were identified as relevant: four cross-sectional studies and six prospective. No clinical trial was identified. Only three studies assessed sarcopenia presence and four measured muscle mass, which is an essential criterion in sarcopenia diagnosis. Mediterranean diet adherence had, in general, a positive role in muscle mass and muscle function, while the results were less clear with regard to muscle strength. Additionally, there was no evidence of a positive effect of the Mediterranean diet on sarcopenia. There is a need for conduction of clinical trials in order to reach cause-effects conclusions regarding the importance of the Mediterranean diet in sarcopenia prevention and management in Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean populations.

Current Insights in Nutrition Assessment and Intervention for Malnutrition or Muscle Loss in People with Lung Cancer: A Narrative Review

Up to 70% of people with lung cancer may be affected by cancer-related malnutrition or muscle loss, depending on treatment modality and disease stage. This narrative review explores recent studies on malnutrition and muscle loss as well as nutritional and multimodal interventions to treat these conditions in the context of the changing treatment landscape in lung cancer. Various types of interventions, including individualized counseling, protein and other specific nutrient supplementation, as well as multimodal interventions to treat malnutrition and muscle loss, have been investigated. Overall, individualized dietary counseling, increasing protein intake, and supplementation with omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids appear to be beneficial for some, albeit varying, patient outcomes. Multimodal interventions, generally including a nutrition and exercise component, show promising results; however, the impact on patient outcomes is mixed. A key finding of this review is a lack of large, randomized trials to guide nutrition intervention specifically in people with lung cancer. Despite the high prevalence of malnutrition and muscle loss in people with lung cancer and the known adverse outcomes, current evidence for nutrition intervention is limited. A targeted effort is required to improve the quality of evidence for nutrition intervention in this population to provide support for clinicians to deliver effective nutrition care.

Nutritional and Exercise Interventions in Cancer-Related Cachexia: An Extensive Narrative Review

One of the common traits found in cancer patients is malnutrition and cachexia, which affects between 25% to 60% of the patients, depending on the type of cancer, diagnosis, and treatment. Given the lack of current effective pharmacological solutions for low muscle mass and sarcopenia, holistic interventions are essential to patient care, as well as exercise and nutrition. Thus, the present narrative review aimed to analyze the nutritional, pharmacological, ergonutritional, and physical exercise strategies in cancer-related cachexia. The integration of multidisciplinary interventions could help to improve the final intervention in patients, improving their prognosis, quality of life, and life expectancy. To reach these aims, an extensive narrative review was conducted. The databases used were MedLine (PubMed), Cochrane (Wiley), Embase, PsychINFO, and CinAhl. Cancer-related cachexia is a complex multifactorial phenomenon in which systemic inflammation plays a key role in the development and maintenance of the symptomatology. Pharmacological interventions seem to produce a positive effect on inflammatory state and cachexia. Nutritional interventions are focused on a high-energy diet with high-density foods and the supplementation with antioxidants, while physical activity is focused on strength-based training. The implementation of multidisciplinary non-pharmacological interventions in cancer-related cachexia could be an important tool to improve traditional treatments and improve patients' quality of life.