Nutritional Interventions for Treating Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Qualitative Review. Nutr Cancer 2019;71(1):21-40
Date
01/29/2019Pubmed ID
30688088Pubmed Central ID
PMC6456409DOI
10.1080/01635581.2018.1513046Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85064045281 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 44 CitationsAbstract
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a debilitating syndrome that persists for many cancer survivors for years after treatment. Symptoms include early and persistent fatigue, functional decline, depression, and cognitive difficulties. Inflammation, assessed using pro-inflammatory biomarkers, is increased in cancer survivors with fatigue and treatments for fatigue are often aimed at reducing inflammation. Additionally, cancer and its treatment lead to nutritional complications, changes in body composition, and nutritional deficiencies that potentially weaken the cancer survivor and impact CRF. We conducted a qualitative review of clinical trials that assessed nutritional interventions for preventing and treating CRF. Further studies were examined that used nutritional interventions to address inflammation and fatigue, due to the dearth of nutrition research directly related to CRF. Dietary intake prior to, during, and after cancer treatment appears to affect fatigue levels. Increased protein intake may help preserve lean mass and body composition. Dietary patterns that reduce inflammation, such as the Mediterranean diet and other plant-based diets, appear tolerable to cancer survivors and may reduce fatigue. Supplementation with ginseng, ginger, or probiotics may improve cancer survivors' energy levels. Nutritional interventions, alone or in combination with other interventions should be considered as therapy for fatigue in cancer survivors.
Author List
Inglis JE, Lin PJ, Kerns SL, Kleckner IR, Kleckner AS, Castillo DA, Mustian KM, Peppone LJAuthor
Sarah L. Kerns PhD Associate Professor in the Radiation Oncology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Cancer SurvivorsClinical Trials as Topic
Diet
Dietary Supplements
Fatigue
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Humans
Micronutrients
Neoplasms
Nutrition Therapy
Probiotics
