To characterize nutritional modalities, outcomes, and contextual effectiveness in cancer management.
Approach:
Study Design: A scoping review was conducted following the Cochrane Handbook and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, focusing on empirical studies of nutrition interventions in cancer populations.
Data Sources: A comprehensive search was performed across MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL to identify relevant literature.
Eligibility Criteria: Included randomized controlled trials, pilot studies, and matched cohort studies reporting patient/clinical outcomes related to nutritional interventions.
Key Findings:
Fifteen studies conducted in countries such as Canada, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and India were included, focusing on interventions like dietitian-led counseling, oral nutrition supplements, and multimodal prehabilitation.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-enriched oral nutritional supplementation improved appetite and treatment tolerability during chemotherapy, though survival rates remained unchanged.
Cachexia programs were feasible and safe, but adherence to nutritional supplements was lower compared to exercise and medication.
Culturally appropriate foods enhanced acceptability and quality of life.
Interpretation:
Nutritional therapy is a feasible and clinically meaningful component of cancer care, with varying impacts based on context and fidelity.
Limitations:
Lack of harmonized outcomes and adherence optimization data.
Need for cost-effectiveness data to inform commissioning and evaluation strategies.
Conclusion:
Nutritional strategies are important in cancer treatment, but further research is needed to standardize outcomes and improve adherence.
