[Food intake, depressed appetite and chemosensory threshold in patients with cancer during chemotherapy].

Energy and protein intake and eating-related complaints were studied in 52 patients with cancer of the breast, ovary or lung prior to and after 1 and 3 cycles of chemotherapy. Pretreatment intakes were somewhat lower than recommended, but did not change after therapy. Many patients had eating-related complaints, but these complaints did not increase after therapy. Eating-related complaints (except poor appetite) had no impact on intake. Electrical taste detection thresholds and chemical smell detection thresholds were measured before and after three cycles of chemotherapy. Changes in food intake had no relation to changes in chemosensory thresholds. Perceived taste and smell changes were not reflected in chemosensory thresholds.