Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Disease-related malnutrition is one of the main factors associated with morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Furthermore, maintaining and improving muscle mass and function are important to achieve an optimal nutritional status. In this sense, the role of leucine-enriched essential amino acids supplementation for the therapeutic approach to the promotion of muscle anabolism stands out.

Methods: 46 cancer patients with malnutrition receiving systemic treatment were randomized to receive for three months leucine-enriched essential amino acids supplementation or standard supplements. Patients were evaluated before and after three months. Nutritional assessment was performed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), dynamometry, ultrasound of rectus femoris muscle and subcutaneous fat tissue, functional tests and laboratory parameters.

Results: 54% women. Mean age: 65 years. Median BMI: 24 kg/m2. 19,6% with colorectal cancer. Regardless of primary tumor origin, 63% of patients received combined modality therapy consisting of surgery along with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. 80% of patients were classified as malnourished according to the GLIM criteria and 67% of patients presented decreased standardized phase angle (SPA) in the first morphofunctional assessment (Median 4.5° IQR 3.6–5.9). Positive correlation between ‘Timed-Up-and Go‘ test (TUG), dynamometry and SPA was demonstrated (P<0.05). Nutritional supplementation increased prealbumin levels and decreased CRP values. Malnutrition was resolved three months later in 16% of patients. There were no significant differences between nutritional supplements in ultrasound parameters, body composition, functional test or prevalence of malnutrition after intervention.

Conclusion: In a third of patients disease-related malnutrition was resolved despite being in treatment with combined therapy. There were no differences between nutritional supplements, probably because of the short duration of nutritional treatment.