Abstract
Nutritional status plays a vital role in the growth of children. In pediatric patients, disease-related malnutrition is a dynamic and multifactorial process supported by several factors such as inflammation, increased energy expenditure, decreased intake or reduced utilization of nutrients. In pediatric patients with malignancies, sarcopenia may coexist with malnutrition, amplifying its negative impact on prognosis. Careful monitoring of nutritional status both at diagnosis and during chemotherapy treatment allows early detection of the risk and/or presence of malnutrition. A rapid and personalized nutritional intervention can improve adherence to treatment, reduce complications and improve the patients' quality of life.
Highlights
In 2013, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and American Society of Parental and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) defined pediatric malnutrition as an imbalance in nutrient requirements and intake that causes adverse effects on growth, neurocognitive and body functions, and other relevant clinical outcomes [1]
Chemotherapy drugs can produce changes in taste, loss of appetite, nausea, and/or vomiting, resulting in reduced nutrient intake [9,10,11,12]. All these processes lead to neoplastic cachexia, a complex metabolic syndrome characterized by a continuous loss of skeletal muscle mass
Sarcopenia has been characterized in adults as a component of malnutrition, described by loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and reduced muscle strength or physical performance [16]
Summary
In 2013, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and American Society of Parental and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) defined pediatric malnutrition as an imbalance in nutrient requirements and intake that causes adverse effects on growth, neurocognitive and body functions, and other relevant clinical outcomes [1]. Sarcopenia is a pathological condition, characterized by a progressive and generalized reduction in the quantity, quality and strength of muscle mass, more or less associated with reduced physical performance. It is a major cause of physical disability, poor quality of life, loss of self-sufficiency and death [17]. Acute sarcopenia is usually related to an acute disease or injury, whereas chronic sarcopenia is likely to be associated with chronic and progressive conditions and increases the risk of mortality This distinction is intended to emphasize the need to conduct periodic assessments of sarcopenia in individuals who may be at risk for sarcopenia in order to determine how quickly the condition is developing or worsening.
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