The Impact of Tailored Nutrition Intervention and Dietary Counseling on Body Weight in Female Cancer Cachexia Patients in India.

67 Background: The prevalence of malnutrition, amongst cancer palliative patients, is 81%. As cancer progresses, patients’ develop malnutrition owing to metabolic changes and ill-effects of treatment. The aim of this study was to improve nutritional status of female cancer patients and their quality of life by counseling and providing nutrient rich natural food (IAtta). Methods: Female cancer patients (n=45) attending palliative care clinic (AIIMS, New Delhi); with symptoms of cachexia were randomly distributed into control (Group one, n=23) and intervention group (Group two, n=22). Both groups were provided with nutritional counseling while the intervention group also received 100grams of IAtta, to be consumed daily for three months. Anthropometric measurements [weight, muscle mass, percentage body fat (%BF) and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC)], dietary intake (two day dietary recall) and quality of life (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life C30 Questionnaire) were assessed at baseline and after three months. Data was analysed using paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test on the variables assessed. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: Patients in group one had significantly decreased body weight (p= 0.001), muscle mass (p= 0.021), MUAC (p= 0.005) and %BF (p= 0.001) by end of three months. While patients in group two reported significant improvement in fatigue (p= 0.001) and appetite loss score (p= 0.002) under quality of life domains. Conclusions: Nutritional counseling along with IAtta food supplementation helps in stabilising weight and improves quality of life of cancer cachexia patients undergoing palliative care treatment. Clinical trial information: RP- 02/17.06.2013. [Table: see text]