Nutritional prehabilitation is a preventive and proactive approach that focuses on improving the nutritional status of patients diagnosed with cancer before starting cancer treatment. This approach is essential, as a high percentage of cancer patients are malnourished at the time of diagnosis.
Statistics show that between 25% and 40% of newly diagnosed patients and up to 80% of patients with advanced diagnosis suffer from malnutrition.
Adequate nutrition is crucial to prevent the loss of muscle mass and function, known as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia not only decreases the patient's functionality, but can also be fatal in advanced cases due to exclusively nutritional causes. An optimal nutritional status improves the patient's response to treatment and quality of life.
Malnutrition weakens the immune system, which increases susceptibility to infection and complicates wound healing and tissue repair. Immunomodulatory formulas used in patients with gastrointestinal tumors have proven to be effective not only in improving nutrition but also in strengthening the patient's immune system.
Patients with adequate nutrition have better tolerance to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Nutritional prehabilitation ensures that patients are in the best possible condition to face these treatments, reducing complications and improving outcomes.
The first step in nutritional prehabilitation is to perform nutritional screening. This process involves a series of tests to identify patients at risk of malnutrition. Patients with a 5% loss of body weight or more than 2% loss of muscle mass require a complete nutritional assessment.
The complete nutritional assessment requires the collection of a series of anthropometric data such as measurement of the patient’s weight, height, and calculation of the body mass index, as an estimate of functionality by SARC-F screening, and frailty (FRAIL scale). Nutritional requirements are evaluated using validated scales (Mifflin-St.Jeor) and a complete analysis is performed to ensure adequate energy intake and accurate supplementation adjusted to the deficiencies of both fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, which each patient individually presents. Based on these results, personalized diets are designed and specific nutritional supplements are administered.
Physical exercise as a nutritional supplement
Physical exercise is a fundamental part of nutritional prehabilitation. It helps maintain muscle mass, improves the patient’s functionality and mood, and reduces the incidence of depression and anxiety. In colon and breast tumors, exercise has been shown to reduce recurrences and improve survival.
Nutritional prehabilitation should be part of a multidisciplinary approach that includes the intervention of oncologists, nutritionists, psychologists, physiotherapists and rehabilitators. This team works cohesively to provide comprehensive and personalized support to each patient, addressing not only nutritional needs but also the psychological and physical aspects of treatment.
It provides patients with the necessary tools to improve their nutritional status, strengthen their immune system, and prepare them to face the rigors of cancer treatment. Taking a preventive, multidisciplinary approach can make all the difference in the recovery and quality of life of cancer patients.
