The influence of radiotherapy on the protein intake and muscle mass of patients has not been extensively investigated to date. It is also unclear whether the localization of the tumor disease and thus the radiation field have different effects. Therefore, with the pilot study presented here, we would like to record the nutritional uptake of patients before and after radiotherapy. The aim is to determine the amount of energy and protein intake as well as the timing of protein intake. Furthermore, the relationship between the timing of protein intake and muscle mass will be investigated.
Many studies have shown that cancer patients have a very high prevalence of malnutrition. Several large-scale studies have reported that 50-80% of these patients are affected by involuntary weight loss, with the extent of weight loss depending on the tumor location and the type and stage of the disease. It has been widely reported that nutritional interventions are essential in cancer patients. Nevertheless, nutritional support is still not universally accessible to all patients. Given the prevalence of nutritional risks, the treatment of lean muscle mass loss remains a challenge in clinical practice. For this reason, a multidisciplinary approach with targeted nutritional therapy is crucial to improve the quality of care in oncology. A protein level of 1-1.2 g/kg bw is suggested for the maintenance of muscle mass.However, it has been shown that this amount is not sufficient to support ALM in patients with tumor diseases. Only an amount above 1.4 g/kg bw has been associated with a positive effect on muscle mass. Adequate dietary protein intake is essential for the maintenance of numerous physiological processes, including muscle protein synthesis and muscle function. Sufficient energy and protein intake is necessary to support muscle protein synthesis. The scientific literature frequently discusses the relationship between daily protein intake and its distribution over the main meals. The evening meal is particularly important for the maintenance of ALM.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
175
Charité University Medicine Berlin
Berlin, State of Berlin, Germany
RECRUITINGProtein uptake in g/kg body weight
Change in the amount of protein consumed and its distribution over the main meals by means of a dietary questionnaire before, at the end and 3 months after completion of radiotherapy.
Time frame: baseline, end of radiotherapy and 3 months after Radiotherapy
Weight in kg
Body Weight
Time frame: baseline, end of radiotherapy and 3 months after Radiotherapy
Muscle mass in kg
Evaluation of Muscle mass via Bioimpedance Measurements
Time frame: baseline, end of radiotherapy and 3 months after Radiotherapy
Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ C30) in 5-tier likert scale (higher scores = better)
Health Related Quality of Life with EORTC QLQ C30
Time frame: baseline, end of radiotherapy and 3 months after Radiotherapy
Height in m
Height
Time frame: baseline, end of radiotherapy and 3 months after Radiotherapy
Fatigue in 5-tier likert scale (higher scores = worse)
FACIT F Questionnaire
Time frame: baseline, end of radiotherapy and 3 months after Radiotherapy
BMI in kg/m²
BMI calculated from weight and Hight
Time frame: baseline, end of radiotherapy and 3 months after Radiotherapy
Treatment Toxicity via CTCA criteria (5 tier scale; higher = worse)
Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5
Time frame: baseline, weekly during radiotherapy, end of treatment, follow up (up to 1 year, on average every 3 months)
Treatment Toxicity via PROMs (5 tier scale; higher = worse)
Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE®)
Time frame: baseline, weekly during radiotherapy, end of treatment, follow up (up to 1 year, on average every 3 months)
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