Relationship between food perceptions and health-related quality of life in a prospective study with breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the perceptions related to dietary intake with the domains and subscales of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in women with breast neoplasms receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: In this prospective study, 55 women with breast cancer were followed up during chemotherapy at three different times (T0, T1, T2). Before chemotherapy, perceptions related to food consumption were evaluated. HRQL was analyzed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and Br23 instruments 21 days after each investigated cycle. The differences (T2-T0) in the subscales and HRQL domains were correlated with the differences (T2-T0) in the appetite scores. Spearman's correlation was used to verify a possible correlation between differences in functional and overall HRQL domains (T2-T0) and differences in appetite scores for certain foods and between the differences in some subscales of EORTC QLQ-C30 and Br23 (T2-T0) and differences in appetite scores for certain food groups (T2-T0). RESULTS: Correlations between pain and appetite for bitter taste and between an increased appetite for juices and pain intensification or fatigue were identified, and pain was correlated with an appetite for starchy foods. An appetite for vegetables, legumes and meat/eggs was correlated with physical function. The only significant correlation with social functions occurred between the appetite for sweet foods and these functions. We found a correlation between overall health, emotional function, social function and physical function and the appetite for juices. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy alters the individual's relationship with food and, consequently, the individual's HRQL.

Consumo alimentar e estado nutricional de mulheres em quimioterapia / Food intake and the nutritional status of women undergoing chemotherapy

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o consumo alimentar e o estado nutricional de mulheres com câncer de mama (CM) em quimioterapia (QT). A avaliação dietética quantitativa foi realizada de acordo com as Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) e a avaliação qualitativa pelo Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Revisado (IQD-R). Dentre o total de pacientes (n = 20), 60% (n = 12) apresentaram circunferência da cintura igual ou superior a 88 cm. Foi verificado 75% (n = 15) de indivíduos com excesso de peso. A média da ingestão de cálcio, cobre, ferro, fibra alimentar, magnésio, potássio, vitamina A, niacina, vitamina B6 e zinco encontrava-se abaixo da recomendação de ingestão adequada e o consumo de vitamina C, fósforo, manganês, sódio e tiamina encontrava-se acima. Quanto à análise do IQD-R, 80% (n = 16) das pacientes apresentaram uma “dieta que requer modificações”, enquanto que 20% (n = 4) apresentaram uma “dieta saudável”. Observou-se elevado excesso de peso, desequilíbrio na ingestão de micronutrientes e dieta que necessita melhorias. Dessa forma, a criação e a utilização de um protocolo de intervenção nutricional são de grande relevância para melhorar a dieta de pacientes com CM que realizam QT.

Abstract The objective behind this study was the analysis of food intake and the nutritional status of women with breast cancer (BC) undergoing chemotherapy (CT). The quantitative dietary evaluation was performed in accordance with Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI), whereas the qualitative evaluation was performed through the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index – Revised (BHEI-R).From among the total number of patients (n = 20), 60% (n = 12) presented waist circumference, equal to or higher than 88cm. It was noted that 75% (n = 15) individuals were overweight. The average intake for calcium, copper, iron, dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, niacin, vitamin B6 and zinc, were found to be below adequate intake levels, while the intake of vitamin C, phosphorus, manganese, sodium and thiamine were all found to be above DRIs recommendations. As for the analysis of the BHEI-R, 80% (n = 16) of the patients presented a “diet that needs modifications”, while 20% (n = 4) presented a “healthy diet”. Noted from these observations was the presence of a high overweight rate, a discrepancy in the intake of micronutrients and a diet that needed improvements. In this manner, the establishment and use of a nutritional intervention protocol are very important when it comes to the improvement of the diet in patients with BC and who are undergoing CT.