PD716 - IMPACT OF 3-MONTH PROTEIN-RICH NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT ON SARCOPENIA IN CANCER PATIENTS AT A PUBLIC HOSPITAL

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PD716

IMPACT OF 3-MONTH PROTEIN-RICH NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT ON SARCOPENIA IN CANCER PATIENTS AT A PUBLIC HOSPITAL

M. D. J. QUINTERO-LOPEZ1,*, A. L. FLETES1, F. J. FRAGOSO TORRES1, C. AVALOS1, L. MARTINEZ1, M. A. GUERRA1, M. I. MORALES1

1NUTRICION , INSTITUTO JALISCIENSE DE CANCEROLOGIA, ZAPOPAN , Mexico

 

Rationale: Sarcopenia is a major complication in oncology, linked to increased morbidity, mortality, and poor treatment response. This study aims to address the following research question: Does 3-month protein-rich nutritional support improve sarcopenia-related outcomes in cancer patients at a public hospital? Therefore, we evaluated the impact of high-protein nutritional support on preserving muscle mass and function in this population.

Methods: A 90-day longitudinal study was conducted with 54 hospitalized patients at the OPD Instituto Jalisciense de Cancerología. Participants received a personalized diet (Simplified Caloric Requirement method) and specialized protein-rich oral polymeric formulas. Baseline and follow-up assessments included somatometry (FDA-certified), handgrip dynamometry (HGD), and calf circumference (CC) to evaluate sarcopenia. Statistical analysis used paired Student’s t-tests and chi-square tests, with each patient serving as their own control. All participants provided informed consent.

Results: The cohort included 31 women and 23 men. Cancer types: head and neck (n=16), gastrointestinal (n=13), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n=10), endometrial (n=9), and breast (n=6). After 3 months, significant muscle anabolism was observed:

 

Weight: 66.53±17.09 vs. 67.32±16.12 kg (t=0.997, p=0.001).

 

CC: 31.82±4.95 vs. 32.72±4.70 cm (t=0.909, p=0.001).

 

HGD: 20.15±8.17 vs. 22.50±8.80 kg (t=0.895, p<0.001).

Additionally, an increase in micronutrients supporting muscle anabolism was identified.

Conclusion: Three months of protein-rich enteral supplementation and personalized dieting effectively promoted muscle anabolism in cancer patients, directly addressing the research question by slowing sarcopenia progression through improved weight, CC, and HGD. These results highlight the critical importance of tailored nutritional strategies to enhance functional capacity.

 

Disclosure of Interest: None declared