PP012 - SENSORY ALTERATIONS IN HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN TASTE PERCEPTION, MUSCLE STRENGTH, LEPTIN, AND INFLAMMATION DURING CHEMOTHERAPY

PP012

SENSORY ALTERATIONS IN HEMATOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES: THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN TASTE PERCEPTION, MUSCLE STRENGTH, LEPTIN, AND INFLAMMATION DURING CHEMOTHERAPY

J. Micheletti^1,*, J. M. F. Sicchieri^1,2, L. L. D. F. Pontes ², A. M. Navarro ^1,2

¹Universidade de Sao Paulo , ²Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto , Ribeirão Preto , Brazil

Rationale: Taste alterations are frequent adverse events during chemotherapy, negatively impacting nutritional status and clinical outcomes. This study aimed to elucidate the associations between taste perception and body composition, physical function, hormonal regulation, and systemic inflammation in adults with hematologic malignancies, to support more targeted nutritional interventions.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 31 adult patients (77.4% male; mean age 46.9 years) undergoing chemotherapy for Acute Leukemias (n=15), Lymphomas (n=8), and Multiple Myeloma (n=8). The study protocol included: taste sensitivity testing (Taste Strips-ODOFIN™), body composition analysis via bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS), muscle strength evaluation using handgrip dynamometry, plasma leptin quantification by ELISA, and calculation of the C-Reactive Protein to Albumin (CRP/ALB) ratio based on electronic medical records.

Results: A significant positive correlation was observed between global taste sensitivity and handgrip strength (ρ=0.471; p=0.036), as well as plasma leptin levels (ρ=0.410; p=0.040). Among specific tastes, sweet perception yielded the highest mean score and correlated positively with the CRP/ALB inflammatory index (ρ=0.397; p=0.027). Sour taste perception was positively associated with electrical resistance (ρ=0.447; p=0.015), while salty taste sensitivity showed positive associations with both phase angle (ρ= 0.438; p= 0.018) and plasma leptin (ρ = 0.452; p = 0.021).

Conclusion: Our findings reveal a complex web of interactions among systemic inflammation, hormonal regulation, and body composition deterioration, mediated by taste alterations. These results underscore the critical importance of implementing multidimensional nutritional assessments to guide adequate support strategies in this challenging clinical setting.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared