Association Between Pretreatment Dietary Preference and Weight Loss after Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Weight loss is common in cancer patients underwent radiation therapy. However, the impact of pretreatment behavior on postradiation nutritional status was unknown. This prospective observational study was conducted in 31 Thai head and neck cancer patients to investigate the association between pretreatment dietary preference and weight change after radiotherapy. Pretreatment preferences on sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami, spicy, and fatty food were evaluated using a validated questionnaire, TASTE26. Body weights were monitored at baseline, 1,000–2,000, 2,800–3,400, 4,000–4,400, and 5,000–7,000 cGy of radiations and 2 month-follow up after radiotherapy. The energy intakes were analyzed by using 3 day-dietary record and INMUCAL software. Spicy food preference was the only factor found positively correlated with weight loss after radiation (r = 0.64, P = 0.007). Consistently, strong spicy lovers had more pronounced reduction of energy intake and body weight, and higher needs of tube feeding than those of mild or moderate lovers (P < 0.05). This study suggested that stronger preference on spicy food may be associated with less energy intake and more severe weight loss after radiation therapy. A large-scale study is warranted to confirm such findings. Then, preradiation screening for spicy preference may be useful to predict weight loss during radiation therapy.