The effect of a low fat, low lactose diet on nutritional status during pelvic radiotherapy

The food intake and nutritional status were assessed before, during and after radiotherapy in 143 women with gynaecological malignancies randomized to either a low fat, low lactose diet or a normal diet during treatment. The patients on the low fat, low lactose diet had an intake of fat of 34 g per day during radiotherapy, 41 g per day 6 weeks after radiotherapy and 52 g per day 1 year after radiotherapy, when they were no longer on the diet. The intake in the control group was 57 g per day, 67 g per day and 66 g per day respectively. The total energy intake was reduced in both groups during radiotherapy. The reduced intake of energy resulted in weight loss, greatest in the intervention group. 1 year after radiotherapy both groups had almost regained their initial weight. No marked changes were observed in nutritional status as a result of decreased nutritional intake during radiotherapy.