Nutritional Intervention in Egyptian Pediatric Patients with Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy Treatment

Abstract

Background: When it comes to pediatric cancer, nutrition could have a role in nearly every aspect of cancer control for supportive care, treatment, and recovery. The purpose of this work was to improve the nutritional status of pediatric patients with cancer and to evaluate the impact of nutritional support and counseling among these children. Methods: This interventional study was carried out on 54 children; they were categorized into two groups (27 in each group): the interventional group that included patients who had cancer and undergone chemotherapy with complete nutritional intervention, and the control group that included patients who had cancer and undergone the chemotherapy with the refusal of complete nutrition intervention. All patients were subjected to nutritional status at diagnosis, during treatment, and clinical outcome. Biochemical assessment was done for all patients, including CBC. direct bilirubin, ALT and AST, albumin and para-albumin test, creatinine test, and electrolyte test (Ph, Mg, K+, and Na+). Results: Statistically significant decreases were found in the mean Hb, HT, and creatinine (p=0.02, 0.01, and <0.001, respectively) and increases in direct bilirubin at the 45th day of follow-up among the control group compared to the interventional group (p<0.001). Statistically significant increases were revealed in the degree of malnutrition among the control group compared to the interventional group on the 30th, 60th day, and 90th day of follow-up (p<0.05)ز Conclusion: Nutritional intervention could have a positive effect on hematological findings and biochemical analysis at different times of follow-up among studied children with cancer