CANCER CACHEXIA AND SARCOPENIA: NUTRITIONAL STRATEGIES TO PRESERVE MUSCLE MASS AND AUTONOMY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/aurumpub.034-015Keywords:
Cancer cachexia, Sarcopenia, Clinical nutrition, Muscle mass, Nutritional oncologyAbstract
Cancer cachexia and sarcopenia are complex, multifactorial, and highly prevalent syndromes in the oncological context, associated with metabolic, inflammatory, and functional alterations that negatively affect prognosis, treatment response, and quality of life in cancer patients. This chapter aimed to critically analyze the available scientific evidence on these conditions, with emphasis on nutritional strategies focused on preserving muscle mass and functional autonomy.
The study is characterized as a narrative literature review, developed from scientific articles, international consensus statements, and clinical guidelines indexed in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases. The analysis shows that muscle loss results from complex systemic mechanisms, including chronic inflammation, anabolic resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased protein catabolism — and cannot be explained solely by decreased food intake.
Findings demonstrate a consistent association between muscle loss, decline in strength and functionality, reduced autonomy, and poorer quality of life, regardless of tumor site. Additionally, early assessment of body composition and functionality proved essential for identifying sarcopenia and cachexia, enabling more timely and individualized nutritional interventions.
It is concluded that appropriate nutritional strategies, when implemented early and integrated into a multidisciplinary care model, play a fundamental role in preserving muscle mass, mitigating functional decline, and promoting a more comprehensive, humanized, and evidence‑based oncological approach.
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