Web-based nutrition: a useful resource for cancer patients?

Diana Elena Lazar; Roxana Postolica; Bianca Hanganu; Veronica Mocanu; Beatrice Gabriela Ioan

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1134793

Web-based nutrition: a useful resource for cancer patients?

Front Nutr. 2023 Jun 30:10:1134793. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1134793. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Diana Elena Lazar^{1

2}, Roxana Postolica³, Bianca Hanganu⁴, Veronica Mocanu⁵, Beatrice Gabriela Ioan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Doctoral School, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania.
² Municipal Hospital "St. Hierarch Dr. Luca", Onesti, Romania.
³ Department of Psychology, Regional Institute of Oncology, Iași, Romania.
⁴ IIIrd Medical Department, Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania.
⁵ Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences (Pathophysiology), Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania.

Abstract

Introduction: An accessible and affordable way to deliver behavior change programs to a large proportion of the growing community of cancer patients and survivors is through web-based methods of nutritional counselling.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of web-based nutritional therapies targeting physical activity, diet, and/or weight control for cancer patients or survivors, primarily disseminated via modern technologies (mobile phone applications) or online.

Materials and methods: The authors conducted a structured search of the PubMed database. Studies that have focused on physical activity (PA) and dietary change and/or weight control in adolescent and adult cancer patients and survivors have reported outcomes conducted via a broad modality.

Results: Nine articles focused on web-based nutrition for patients with cancer and cancer survivors. They were conducted in the United States, Australia, Korea, China, and in the United Kingdom, and were published between 2018 and 2022 in a variety of scientific journals. The number of participants ranged from 20 to 159.

Conclusion: Web-based nutrition counselling helps cancer patients and survivors improve their dietary intake, impacts their weight and quality of life, and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Future research should evaluate (1) the differences in cost and coverage between face-to-face and web-based nutrition, (2) long-term outcomes, (3) cost-effectiveness, and last but not least, (4) the effectiveness of web-based nutrition in adolescents and children who suffer from cancer or who survived cancer, as nutritional status and body composition have a marked impact on clinical outcomes during and after treatment. The strength of this review lies in the large number of randomized controlled trials, which offer a guarantee of effectiveness and objectivity compared to cross-sectional studies.

Keywords: cachexia; cancer; cancer personalized nutrition; dietary advice; sarcopenia; telemedicine; web-based nutrition.

Publication types

Review