PD666 - TARGETING TASTE ALTERATIONS IN CANCER CARE: DEVELOPING AN AI-SUPPORTED APPROACH TO PERSONALIZED NUTRITION (GUSTABOR)

PD666

TARGETING TASTE ALTERATIONS IN CANCER CARE: DEVELOPING AN AI-SUPPORTED APPROACH TO PERSONALIZED NUTRITION

(GUSTABOR)

A. Elsner^1,*, M. I. Cruz², D. Benchert², S. Siddiqui², U. Haidn¹, P. Heumann³, S. Schlosser-Hupf³, A. Kandulski³, A. Fleischer², A. Hann², N. Erickson¹

¹LMU Klinikum München, München, ²Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, ³Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

Rationale: Dysgeusia is a frequently reported side effect among oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy impairing quality of life and nutrition status.Nutrition interventions remain poorly standardized and few studies evaluate their individual effectiveness. 

Methods: Gustabor is a prospective, single-arm pilot study conducted at three university sites (Munich, Würzburg, Regensburg) in Germany (n=51). This abstract reports preliminary results from the Munich cohort (n=12). An AI-supported digital platform was systematically developed to generate personalized dietary measures and recipes based on individual taste profiles obtained via the Taste and Smell Survey (TSS). Input from IT, medicine, nutrition science, and patient advocates ensured the platform’s user-friendliness, and evidence-based approach. Patients rated the utility and palatability of the suggestions at baseline (t0) and at follow up (t1).

Results: Small, frequent meals were tried and rated by 12 patients and were considered helpful or very helpful by 10/12 (83.3%). Neutral foods were tried by 11 patients and rated helpful by 8/11 (72.7%), while alternative protein sources were tried by 10 patients and rated helpful by 8/10 (80.0%). Extra sauces were tried by 9 patients and rated helpful by 7/9 (77.8%). Measures such as more spices, reduced salt, marinating meat, and other taste-modifying strategies were also tried by smaller numbers of patients and rated helpful by a substantial proportion of those who tested them.

Conclusion: Initial results of the pilot study highlight the complexity of oncology nutrition and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration along with patient involvement. Positive patient feedback indicates that personalized digital nutrition recommendations are actively used by patients and rated as helpful.

Disclosure of Interest: A. Elsner: None declared, M. Cruz: None declared, D. Benchert: None declared, S. Siddiqui: None declared, U. Haidn: None declared, P. Heumann: None declared, S. Schlosser-Hupf: None declared, A. Kandulski: None declared, A. Fleischer: None declared, A. Hann: None declared, N. Erickson Consultant for: served on the Expert advisory board at Baxter, received consulting fees from Fresenius, Speakers Bureau of: received speaker honoraria from Audi BKK, Beiersdorf, Fresenius, Freiraum, Outdoor against Cancer, Fraunhofer Institut, and GHD