Cachexia

Malnutriton and cachexia

a challenge for professionals and patients

Cancer cachexia as a multifactorial syndrome needs to be detected early because regaining lost weight, muscle mass and strength is difficult. It is important to start interventions including nutrition management as early as possible.1

Consequences of cancer cachexia

  • Impairing Quality of Life2-4 
  •  Decreasing treatment tolerance and outcome5,6 
  • Increasing health related cost2,7,8

 A diagnostic criterion for cachexia is weight loss…

> 5% over past 6 months, or 

> 2% and BMI <20 kg/m2 or

> 2% and skeletal muscle mass depletion (sarcopenia) 

… often associated with reduced food intake and systemic inflammation.9 
 

Nutrition management in cancer cachexia should 

  1. provide high protein and energy-dense nutrition10
  2. provide EPA/DHA from fish oil: 2 g EPA/DHA per day have been proven to support the body’s own anti-inflammatory mechanisms.10
     

Download:

Nutrition support alongside the course of cancer disease could be beneficial for your patients.
Here you’ll find detailed information about the dietary management of patients with cancer.

 

Link: HCP-Folder Supportan, HCP-Folder Cachexia
Link: Patient-brochure


1.    Bruggeman AR et al. Cancer cachexia: Beyond weight loss. J Oncol Pract. 2016;12(11):1163-1171.
2.    Van Cutsem E, Arends J. The causes and consequences of cancerassociated malnutrition. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2005;9 Suppl 2:S51-S63.
3.    Climent M et al. Weight Loss and Quality of Life in Patients Surviving 2 Years after Gastric Cancer Resection. European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO) 2017.pii: S0748-7983(17)30337-2.
4.    Takayama et al. Quality of life and survival survey of cancer cachexia in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients—Japan nutrition and QOL survey in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer study. Support Care Cancer 2016;24(8):3473-3480
5.    Odelli C et al. Nutrition support improves patient outcomes, treatment tolerance and admission characteristics in oesophageal cancer. Clin Oncol. 2005;17(8):639-645.
6.    Arrieta O et al. Nutritional status, body surface, and low lean body mass/body mass index are related to dose reduction and severe gastrointestinal toxicity induced by afatinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Oncologist 2015;20(8):967-974.
7.    Caro MM et al. Nutritional intervention and quality of life in adult oncology patients. Clin Nutr. 2007;26(3):289-301.
8.    Pronovost PJ et al. How can clinicians measure safety and quality in acute care? Lancet. 2004;363(9414):1061-7.    
9.    Fearon K et al. Definition and classification of cancer cachexia: an international consensus. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12(5):489-95.
10.    Arends J et al. ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients. Clin Nutr 2017; 36(1): 11-48.