 Eating
an optimized diet is a recommended route to treating the ravages of
cancer. Researchers found that in colorectal cancer patients undergoing
radiotherapy, individualized nutritional counseling promoted better
nutrition, reduced weight loss and fostered a better quality of life.
Moreover, nutritional counseling on an individualized basis seemed
to work more efficiently than simply recommending supplemental protein-packed
nutritional drinks.
Patients involved in the study were divided
into three groups:
- Those who ate a "regular" diet
- Patients who ate a high-protein liquid supplement in addition
to a "regular" diet
- Those who ate a special diet based on individual nutritional
counseling
The study confirmed that individualized nutritional counseling
during radiotherapy was a far better treatment for patients than
the other two options (as well as in the intervention phase and
the three-month follow-up period). And, compared to the other two
groups, anorexia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea were lower in the
dietary counseling group. Researchers noted they were surprised
with the impact nutrition had on the improvement of quality of life
and in reducing symptoms and suffering.
Journal
of Clinical Oncology March 1, 2005;23(7):1431-1438
Reuters
March 28, 2005
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