Ravasco, P., Monteiro-Grillo, I., Marques-Vidal, P., & Camilo, M. (2005). Dietary counseling improves patient outcomes: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23, 1431–1438.
To investigate the impact of dietary counseling or nutritional supplements on morbidity and quality-of-life outcomes in patients with cancer during and three months after radiotherapy (RT)
Group 1 patients received individualized dietary counseling based on regular food groups. Group 2 patients consumed two cans of a high-protein liquid supplement per day in addition to their usual diet. Group 3 patients (control) were instructed to maintain their ad lib intake.
This prospective study design allowed for comparison of the effects of the interventions across the study arms over time. Evaluation took place at three points: baseline, at the end of RT, and three months later. Several types of outcome variables were measured, including nutritional status indicators.
The study was a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
Protein 3 energy intake: at three-month time point, group 1 maintained nutritional intake and groups 2 and 3 returned to baseline. After RT and at three months, rates of anorexia, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea were higher in group 3. At RT completion, 211 QOL function scores improved in group 1, 3 out of 6 function scores improved in group 2, and all scores worsened in group 3.
Researchers concluded that both interventions positively influenced outcomes. Three months after RT, dietary counseling was the only intervention to sustain a significant impact on patient outcomes.
This study examined the effects of individualized dietary counseling in a high-risk group. Whether individualized dietary counseling in other cancer groups will produce the desired outcome of increased appetite needs to be examined.