Dietary intake and diet quality in children receiving treatment for cancer

Emma Goddard; Jennifer Cohen; Lynsey Bramley; Claire E Wakefield; Eleanor J Beck

doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuy069

Dietary intake and diet quality in children receiving treatment for cancer

Nutr Rev. 2019 May 1;77(5):267-277. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuy069.

Authors

Emma Goddard¹, Jennifer Cohen^{2

3}, Lynsey Bramley², Claire E Wakefield^{2

3}, Eleanor J Beck¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.
² Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 30715472
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuy069

Abstract

This narrative synthesis aims to examine the dietary intake, diet quality, and dietary preferences of pediatric cancer patients during cancer treatment. Thirteen studies were eligible for review. Studies mostly investigated nutrient intake, with 7 reporting on children's food intake. There was consensus among studies, which reported suboptimal fruit and vegetable intake and a preference for savory, carbohydrate-based foods. Results suggest that pediatric cancer patients consume a limited variety of foods, with a high intake of noncore foods. Future research should aim to examine dietary food data against dietary guidelines to assess adequacy and variety within core food groups.

Keywords: childhood cancer patients; diet; diet quality; intake; nutrition.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Child
Diet / statistics & numerical data*
Diet Surveys
Diet, Healthy / psychology*
Energy Intake
Female
Food Preferences / psychology*
Fruit
Humans
Male
Neoplasms / therapy*
Nutrition Policy
Vegetables