Protein Requirement in Chemotherapy

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Cancer stands out as the uncontrolled growth of cells because of DNA harm (mutations) and often, because of an inherited partiality to develop particular tumors. Chemotherapy is usually a cancer treatment that uses drugs to prevent the development of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing. One of the downfalls of chemotherapy is that because its focus is always to take away rapidly dividing cells, non cancerous cells which have this feature are attacked by the treatment as well. These include cells within the mouth and digestive tract and scalp causing nausea and hair loss, that are sometimes temporary and reversible.

Nutrition could be affected by symptoms experienced because of cancer and cancer treatments, in addition to psychological involvement like depression or anxiety. Side effects that interfere with eating and digestion could occur during chemotherapy. The subsequent unwanted side effects are common: poor appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, inflammation and sores within the mouth, changes in the way food tastes, and infections [Wojtaszek et al, 2002].

Patients undergoing chemotherapy need 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of ideal body weight per day, in contrast to normal adults who need 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of actual body weight [Gelinas et al, 1990, Bell et al, 1996]. Because of this it is clear to figure out why nutrition is pragmatic for cancer patients going through chemotherapy. The aim for almost any cancer patient, prior to following as well as during treatment is to attain an ample amount of calories daily for weight upkeep and protein to optimize the immune system, strength, and tolerance to therapies. However, it really is difficult for some patients to obtain the nutrients required to develop healthy blood counts between chemotherapy treatments when coping with the unwanted side effects that come with the treatment. Nutrition therapy will treat these unwanted effects and help chemotherapy patients get the nutrients they need to tolerate and get over treatment, stop weight reduction, and maintain general health. Taking supplements high in calories and protein, as well as tube feedings are all basics of nutrition therapy.

For cancer patients, diet and nutrition during chemotherapy must be based mostly on what's tolerated by managing the various symptoms. It's important to manage these symptoms while sustaining the objectives for adequate calories and protein.

Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) is the most common secondary diagnosis in individuals diagnosed with cancer, stemming from the inadequate intake of carbohydrate, protein, and fat to meet metabolic needs and/or the reduced absorption of macronutrients. [McMahon et al, 1998, Colasanto et al 2005]. The loss of appetite or desire to eat is typically present in 15% to 25% of all cancer patients at diagnosis and could also occur as a side effect of treatments. Anorexia is an almost universal side effect in individuals with advanced cancer. [Langstein et al, 1991, Tisdale et al, 1993].

For cancer patients to keep up their weight and their body's nutrition stores they should be efficient in good nutrition methods [American Cancer Society, 2002]. Repeatedly patients with inferior nutrition practices wind up malnurished, with worse treatment unwanted side effects, and bigger risk of infection which reduces their likelihood of survival [Vigano et al, 1994].

In an effort to inhibit losing weight cancer patients commonly need a higher calorie food regimen. They will additionally need a diet that's high in protein content to prevent muscle wasting Foods that are abundant with protein provide our body with amino acids, that help to assemble, fix, and preserve cells and muscle tissue, to repair wounds, also to support the immune system.

Proteins are utilized by the body to help tissue grow and for repair. Cancer patients going through chemotherapy frequently go through a raised protein loss. This causes malnutrition if untreated. Protein supplements like casein and whey help the body in supplying the increased demand for proteins. The unwanted effects of chemotherapy could interfere with the digesting abilities. For that reason small frequent meals of simple to digest foods need to be given every day is what's recommended. Casein is perfect for this. It is a easy protein to digest and also the clot forming ability of casein provides a sustained slow discharge of amino acids into the blood stream. This can surely help in meeting the demand of our bodies for an enlarged supply of amino acids, for providing energy and promoting protein synthesis. Chemotherapy treatments decrease one's immunity levels. In an effort to boost immunity one can take whey protein. In a normal person, GSH exists in the body, which prevents the formation of cancerous cells. Whey contains an ample supply of the amino acid cysteine, that is often a precursor of GSH. Whey protein contains all of the essential amino acids in higher concentration than all vegetable proteins. It is suggested that casein and whey proteins are used to support chemotherapy nutrition because the amino acids within whey are efficiently absorbed and utilized by the body.

References

1. American Cancer Society.: Nutrition for the Person with Cancer: A Guide for Patients and Families. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society, Inc., 2000.

2. Bell SJ, Forse, RA. Positive Nutrition for HIV Infection and AIDS. ChroniMed: Minneapolis, 1996

3. Colasanto JM, Prasad P, Nash MA, Decker RH, Wilson LD.: Nutritional support of patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Oncology (Huntingt). Mar;19(3):371-9, 2005

4. Counous, G: Whey protein concentrates (WPC) and glutathione modulation in cancer treatment. Anticancer Research, 20: 4785-4792, 2000.

5. Gelinas MD, Bell SJ, Akerman P, Blackburn GL. A practical guide to managing nutrition in cancer patients. In: Bloch AS (ed.). Nutritional Management of the Cancer Patient. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 138-158, 1990.

6. Langstein HN, Norton JA: Mechanisms of cancer cachexia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 5 (1): 103-23, 1991.

7. McMahon K, Decker G, Ottery FD: Integrating proactive nutritional assessment in clinical practices to prevent complications and cost. Semin Oncol 25 (2 Suppl 6): 20-7, 1998.

8. Tisdale MJ: Cancer cachexia. Anticancer Drugs 4 (2): 115-25, 1993.

9. Vigano A, Watanabe S, Bruera E: Anorexia and cachexia in advanced cancer patients. Cancer Surv 21: 99-115, 1994.

10. Walzem RL, Dillard CJ, German JB: Whey components: millennia of evolution create functionalities for mammalian nutrition: what we know and what we may be overlooking. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 42:353-375, 2002

11. Wojtaszek CA, Kochis LM, Cunningham RS: Nutrition impact symptoms in the oncology patient. Oncology Issues 17 (2): 15-7, 2002.



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