Association among antioxidant nutrients intake, nutritional status and side effects of cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment

Resumen

Objective: To analyze the influence of antioxidant nutrients consumption over the nutritional status of cancer patients as well as over the occurrence of side effects during antineoplastic treatment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out at a philanthropic hospital in northeastern Brazil with cancer patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment, aged ≥ 18, of both genders. Sociodemographic, clinical and anthropometric data were collect, as well as the record of symptoms related to the adverse effects of antineoplastic treatment. Data on the consumption of antioxidant nutrients’ (vitamin A, C and E, zinc and selenium) food sources were estimated through Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) and evaluated according to nutritional reccomendations.  Results: This sample consisted of 42 participants, 76.2% female and with a mean age of 53. Breast cancer was the most frequent cancer type (52.4%), and 47.6% of cases were metastatic. Regarding nutritional status, 57.2% of patients were overweight or obese, and 38% reported significant weight loss. Vitamin A and C intake were adequate in 92.85% and 76.19% of patients, respectively, but vitamin E, zinc and selenium ingestion all showed low adequacy. Conclusion: No correlation between consumption of antioxidant micronutrients, nutritional status and frequency of side effects in oncologic patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment was identified. This highlights the complexity surrounding cancer biology. Thus, the findings of this study reinforce the need for continuous and individualized nutritional support containing specific interventions for cancer patients.