Body composition and dietary intake in neoplasic disease

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5364412

Cohn, S H ^[1]; Gartenhaus, W; Vartsky, D; Sawitsky, A; Zanzi, I; Rai, K; Cartes, E; Ellis, K J

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1. Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY

Changes in body composition in 37 cancer patients were studied over a period of 6 months. Initially, the patients were divided into two groups: those who lost body weight (over 10%) and those who maintained or gained body weight before the study. Analysis of body composition indicated that patients who lost body weight has caloric and protein intakes markedly below ''normal'' levels at the beginning of the study. There also appears to be a direct relationship between the protein intake and the total body potassium/total body water ratio in the cancer patients. At the end of the 6-month study, the patients were again placed into two groups on the basis of weight loss or gain (and maintenance). Changes in body composition over the period were analyzed in terms of lean body mass, its protein constituent, water, and fat. Weight loss was found to reflect primarily the loss of fat, water, lean body mass (potassium), and only to a minor extent the protein component of lean body mass (nitrogen). Further, on the basis of the values of the ratios of total body nitrogen/total body potassium/total body water, it was possible to ascertain the relative normalcy of the body tissue gained or lost in the 6-month period. The results of the study suggest that the ratio total body nitrogen/total body potassium may serve as the best indicator of recent or ongoing catabolism or anabolism of the neoplastic process. By means of the application of the techniques used for the determination of body composition, it should be possible to assess regimes of hyperalimentation of cancer patients who lose body weight. (JMT)

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 5364412
• Journal Information: Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Clin. Nutr.; (United States) Vol. 34; ISSN AJCNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
ALKALI METALS
BARYON REACTIONS
BODY COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIET
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
FATS
HADRON REACTIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
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NEOPLASMS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
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NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATIENTS
POTASSIUM
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TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
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WHOLE-BODY COUNTING