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Interventions to prevent and treat short-term and long-term nutritional problems in childhood cancer: A systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2021

L. Stewart ,
M. Wilson  and
D. C. Wilson
L. Stewart
Affiliation:
Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 1UW
M. Wilson
Affiliation:
Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 1UW
D. C. Wilson
Affiliation:
Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 1UW
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Abstract

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Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 67 , Issue OCE3: Malnutrition Matters, Joint BAPEN and Nutrition Society Meeting, 27–28 November 2007 , May 2008 , E145
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2008

Nutritional problems are common in children with cancer. Undernutrition at diagnosis is associated with a worsened outcome, development of undernutrition is common during treatment of cancer, yet obesity is a frequent long-term consequence in survivors of childhood cancer. We aimed to ascertain the effectiveness of interventions to prevent or treat these problems in children with cancer by systematic review.

A computer-assisted search of the literature for nutritional interventions to prevent or treat short-term undernutrition and long-term obesity in children with cancer was performed using the following on-line databases: MEDLINE (1966–June 2006), EMBASE (1980–June 2006), CINAHL (1983–June 2006) and the Cochrane Library.

There were neither any evidence-based clinical guidelines nor any systematic reviews of nutritional interventions in childhood cancer. We found no good quality randomised controlled trial of prevention or treatment of either short-term undernutrition or long-term obesity in children with cancer. There is a lack of an evidence base to guide early nutrition support or long-term strategies to prevent obesity in children with cancer.

Those delivering care should closely monitor nutritional status during and post treatment. Well-conducted research investigating factors which may compromise nutrition during treatment and lead to obesity long-term should be undertaken.