Nutritional status of cancer patients in chemotherapy; dietary intake, nitrogen balance and screening

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of the cancer patients (mean±SD)

	Male n=9	Female n=21	All (n=3)
Age (y)	60±11	53±12	55±12
Weight (kg)	89±26	72±15	77±20
Height (cm)	179±7	167±6	170±9
BMI	28±8	26±5	27±6
BMR (kcal/d, calculated)	1639±162	1331±102	1423±187
Breast cancer n=19		Female n=19
Age		53±12
Weight		73±15
Height		168±5
BMI		26±5
BMR		1335±102
Colon cancer n=8	Male n=7	Female n=1	All (n=3)
Age	61±10	58	61±9
Weight	91±30	57	87±30
Height	180±7	150	176±13
BMI	28±9	25	28±8
BMR	1579±158	1128	1522±210
Lung cancer n=3	Male n=2	Female n=1	All (n=3)
Age	57±17	49	54±13
Weight	79±3	70	76±5
Height	174±8	160	169±10
BMI	26±3	27	27±2
BMR	1511±289	1265	1428±249

Table 2. Mean value±SD and reference value of nutritional parameters used for the full nutritional assessment of cancer patients (n=30)

Parameters	Male n=9	Female n=21	Mean n=30	Reference
Alb (g/L)	41±18	36±3	38±10	38–51
Palb (mg/L)	304±67	268±49	279±56	180–450
TLC (×10^9)	1.6±0.9	1.1±0.6	1.3±0.8	>1.8
BMI (kg/m^2)	28±8	26±5	27±6	>20
TST (mm)	7±2	16±5	13±6	>5%**
MAMC (cm)	33±4	32±5	32±5	>5%**
MAMA (cm^2)	85±25	83±26	84±25	>5%**
UWL (kg)	–1±8*	2±8*	1±8*	<5%

Alb = albumin; Palb = prealbumin; TLC = total lymphocyte count; BMI = body mass index; TST = triceps skinfold thickness; MAMA = mid-arm muscle area; MAMC = mid-arm muscle circumference; UWL = unintentional weight loss previous month.

*Mean weight loss (–) or weight gain (+).

**NHANES (1971–1974).

Figure 1.  Simple screening tool for malnutrition (SSM).

Table 3. Statistical evaluation of indicators for malnutrition in cancer patients

	SSM	TST	MAMC	BMI	5–10% weight loss	Alb	Palb	TLC
Sensitivity	0.83	0.67	0	0.17	0.17	1	0	1
Specificity	0.96	0.88	1	1	0.96	0.37	1	0.25
Positive predictive value	0.83	0.57	*	1	0.50	0.29	*	0.25
Negative predictive value	0.96	0.92	0.80	0.83	0.82	1	0.8	1
False positive	1	3	0	0	1	15	0	18
False negative	1	2	6	5	5	0	6	0
Misclassification rate	6.7	16.7	20.0	16.7	20.0	50.0	20.0	60.0

SSM = screening sheet; TST = triceps skinfold thickness; MAMC = mid-arm muscle circumference; BMI = body mass index; 5–10% unintentional weight loss in last month; alb = serum albumin; palb = serum prealbumin; TLC = total lymphocyte count.

*No patient below reference value for this parameter.

Table 4. Daily intake of energy and energy-giving nutrients in cancer patients (n=30), estimated from three-day-weighed food records (mean±SD), and Nordic Nutrition Recommendations for energy-giving nutrients (15)

	Male n=9	Female n=21	Total n=30	NNR
Energy (kcal)	2327±448	1906±475	1905±500
Protein (g/d)	101±19	73±19	76±22
Protein (%E)	17±3	16±2	16±3	10–15
Fat (g/d)	87±23	75±23	73±23
Fat (%E)	33±5	35±6	34±6	<30
CHO (g/d)	270±45	224±69	223±66
CHO (%E)	47±5	47±7	47±7	55–60

CHO = carbohydrate.