Chiu Hui-Fang, Zhuang Shu Ru, Shen You-Cheng, Thangaleela Subramanian, Wang Chin-Kun
Department of Chinese Medicine, Taichung Hospital Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung 40301, Taiwan.
School of Nutrition, Chung Shan Medical University, 110, Sec. 1, Jianguo North Road, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
Nutrients. 2025 Jul 25;17(15):2433. doi: 10.3390/nu17152433.
Malnutrition and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) are prevalent in cancer patients, significantly impacting prognosis and quality of life. Oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) enriched with protein and ω-3 fatty acids may improve nutritional status and mitigate CRF. This study evaluates the effects of a high-protein, fish oil-enriched ONS (FOHP-ONS) on nutritional intake, body composition, fatigue, and quality of life in malnourished cancer patients. Cancer patients with malnutrition or inadequate food intake received 8 weeks of FOHP-ONS (2 cans/day, providing 4.2 g/day of ω-3 fatty acids). Dietary intake, body weight, handgrip strength, serum biochemical markers, nutritional status (PG-SGA), fatigue (BFI-T), and quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Of the 33 enrolled patients, 30 completed the study. Energy and protein intake significantly increased ( < 0.05), and body BMI and handgrip strength showed significant improvements ( < 0.05), while muscle mass did not change significantly. Nutritional status, assessed by PG-SGA, improved, with the proportion of severely malnourished patients (Stage C) decreasing from 46.7% to 13.3%, and moderately malnourished patients (Stage B) improving to well-nourished status (Stage A) from 10.0% to 30.0% ( < 0.001). Serum albumin levels increased significantly ( < 0.05), while fasting blood glucose significantly decreased ( < 0.05). Additionally, triglyceride levels significantly decreased ( < 0.05), while total cholesterol and LDL-C showed a downward trend. Cancer-related fatigue scores improved across all domains ( < 0.05), and quality of life significantly increased, particularly in physical and role functioning ( < 0.05). FOHP-ONS supplementation improved nutritional intake, body composition, and muscle strength while alleviating CRF and enhancing quality of life in malnourished cancer patients. These findings support its potential role in nutritional intervention for malnourished cancer patients.
营养不良和癌症相关疲劳（CRF）在癌症患者中普遍存在，对预后和生活质量有显著影响。富含蛋白质和ω-3脂肪酸的口服营养补充剂（ONS）可能改善营养状况并减轻CRF。本研究评估了一种高蛋白、富含鱼油的ONS（FOHP-ONS）对营养不良癌症患者营养摄入、身体成分、疲劳和生活质量的影响。营养不良或食物摄入量不足的癌症患者接受了8周的FOHP-ONS（每天2罐，提供4.2克/天的ω-3脂肪酸）。在基线、第4周和第8周评估饮食摄入量、体重、握力、血清生化指标、营养状况（PG-SGA）、疲劳（BFI-T）和生活质量（EORTC QLQ-C30）。在33名入组患者中，30名完成了研究。能量和蛋白质摄入量显著增加（<0.05），身体BMI和握力有显著改善（<0.05），而肌肉量没有显著变化。通过PG-SGA评估的营养状况得到改善，严重营养不良患者（C期）的比例从46.7%降至13.3%，中度营养不良患者（B期）从10.0%改善到营养良好状态（A期）至30.0%（<0.001）。血清白蛋白水平显著升高（<0.05），而空腹血糖显著降低（<0.05）。此外，甘油三酯水平显著降低（<0.05），而总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇呈下降趋势。所有领域的癌症相关疲劳评分均有所改善（<0.05），生活质量显著提高，尤其是在身体和角色功能方面（<0.05）。补充FOHP-ONS改善了营养不良癌症患者的营养摄入、身体成分和肌肉力量，同时减轻了CRF并提高了生活质量。这些发现支持了其在营养不良癌症患者营养干预中的潜在作用。
