Total Body Water Distribution in Breast Cancer Survivors Following Cancer Rehabilitation

Laura Stefani,Michele Corezzi,Gabriele Mascherini,Giorgio Galanti,Cristian Petri,Davide Palmerini,Riggs Klika

doi:10.3390/jfmk2020012

Laura Stefani, Michele Corezzi + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk2020012

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Abstract

Cancer in humans is frequently associated with compartmentalization of body fluids as a result of sedentary behavior and pharmacological cellular toxicity. Total Body Water (TBW) in the general population is approximately 55–60% of body weight in adult males and 50–55% in adult females, while varying significantly in pathological conditions. Exercise is largely recognized as an important tool to TBW distribution. The purpose of this study was to investigate, for a least 12 months, the impact of physical activity on body water distribution in a sample of cancer patients and compare their responses to a sample of healthy controls. Cancer patients included 28 clinically stable female cancer patients diagnosed with breast cancer (aged 59 ± 9 years, weight 70.2 ± 9.9 kg, and Body Mass Index (BMI 26.7 ± 5.4 kg·m2), who were enrolled in a year-long physical activity prescription program. The results indicated the absence of significant variations of TBW% between the cancer patients and controls, however, there was a significant improvement in intracellular water content (ICW%) at 6 months (T0: 51.1 ± 3.9 vs. T6: 52.4 ± 4.1; p < 0.05) and at T12 (T0: 51.1 ± 3.9 vs. T12: 53.6 ± 3.1; p < 0.005). In conclusion, in this small sample of cancer survivors, an unsupervised cancer rehabilitation program reduced the trend towards increased peripheral edema.

Highlights

Hydration status is an important clinical consideration in the long-term management of several chronic diseases and is an important factor controlling cellular protein turnover that may affect oncotic pressure [1]
Cancer patients with co-morbidities such as hypertension or diabetes [3] can further contribute to abnormal water distribution, which may lead to further increased risk of metabolic disease
Subjects for this study were recruited from a larger cohort of 145 cancer patients and included a subgroup composed of 28 female subjects with an average age 59 ± 9 years who were previously diagnosed with cancer and enrolled in our rehabilitation program from 2013 to 2016

Summary

Introduction

Hydration status is an important clinical consideration in the long-term management of several chronic diseases and is an important factor controlling cellular protein turnover that may affect oncotic pressure [1]. Oncotic pressure, and vascular permeability may result in abnormal fluid shifts in the body, resulting in altered intra-(ICW) vs extracellular water (ECW) concentrations. Increased ECW results in soft tissue swelling due to expansion of the interstitial volume and is termed edema. Cancer treatments often result in reduced patient physical activity, and increased sedentary behavior and any associated obesity are likely contributors to altered total body water distribution [2]. Cancer patients with co-morbidities such as hypertension or diabetes [3] can further contribute to abnormal water distribution, which may lead to further increased risk of metabolic disease

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