Impact of Enteral Nutrition Support on Biochemical and Nutritional Biomarkers and Chemotherapy Complications in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in the Induction Therapy Stage

Abstract

This research attempted to explore the effect of induction therapy on changes in nutritional status and chemotherapy complications in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. One hundred newly diagnosed patients were randomly assigned to observation and control groups, each comprising 50 participants. Both groups received chemotherapy; however, their dietary regimen differed. The control group received a conventional low-fat diet, while the observation group received one-fourth to one-third of daily total energy intake through enteral nutrition preparations and the remaining energy intake through a conventional low-fat diet until the end of the induction remission period. This study revealed no significant differences between the two groups regarding mid-arm circumference, skinfold thickness, body mass index, and serum albumin levels before and after therapy. After therapy, total protein and prealbumin levels were significantly higher in the observation group compared to the control group. Moreover, the incidence of neutropenia and anemia, average numbers of transfusions of red blood cells and platelets, alanine aminotransferase, activated partial thromboplastin time prolongation, and the incidence of fever were not significantly different between the two groups after therapy. In conclusion, enteral nutrition support elevated selected biochemical markers, but it did not substantially alter nutritional biomarkers and hematological and non-hematological complications.