Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Changes in anthropometrical status and body composition in children with cancer during initial chemotherapy
I Kellerman1, R Blaauw1, J Schoeman2
1Division of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Insights
Children undergoing chemotherapy experience initial nutritional depletion, particularly skeletal muscle loss, within the first two months. However, nutritional status improves with catch-up growth between months two and three, highlighting the need for regular monitoring and intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Clinical Nutrition
- Body Composition Analysis
Background:
- Malnutrition is a significant concern for children with cancer, impacting treatment outcomes.
- Chemotherapy can profoundly affect a child's nutritional status and body composition.
- Early identification and management of nutritional deficits are crucial for pediatric cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of chemotherapy on the anthropometrical status and body composition of children with cancer.
- To track changes in nutritional parameters during the first six months of cancer treatment.
- To assess the effectiveness of different nutritional assessment methods.
Main Methods:
- Monthly measurements of anthropometrical status and body composition using validated bio-electrical impedance (BIA) analysis (InBody S10).
- Data collected at diagnosis and consecutively for six months in 43 newly diagnosed pediatric cancer patients.
- Comparison of nutritional markers including mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), body mass index (BMI), and fat mass (FM).
Main Results:
- Initial malnutrition prevalence varied, with under-nutrition (14%) and stunting (7%) noted at diagnosis.
- Chemotherapy acutely worsened nutritional depletion in the first two months, except for fat mass, with significant skeletal muscle mass loss observed in all patients.
- Catch-up growth occurred between months two and three, leading to significant improvements in weight, height, BMI, fat-free mass, and skeletal muscle mass by six months.
Conclusions:
- Chemotherapy significantly impacts pediatric cancer patients' nutritional status, causing acute depletion in the initial treatment phase.
- Bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) is more sensitive than MUAC in detecting muscle depletion.
- Regular monthly nutritional assessments and timely interventions are essential to manage chemotherapy-induced nutritional changes and support recovery.
Abstract:
Children with cancer require adequate nutritional support to prevent malnutrition. This study investigated the impact of chemotherapy on anthropometrical status and body composition during the first six months of treatment. Anthropometrical status and body composition were measured at diagnosis, utilizing standardized protocols and validated S10 InBody bio-electrical impedance (BIA) measurements and compared to subsequent consecutive monthly follow-up measurements to plot changes over time during the first six months. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Forty-three newly diagnosed children (median age 4 years, IQR: 2.0-7.6; male-female ratio 1:0.9; 53% haematological malignancies and 47% solid tumors) were included. Prevalence of malnutrition varied, with under-nutrition 14% (mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)/body mass index (BMI)), over-nutrition 9.3% (BMI) and stunting 7% at diagnosis. MUAC (14%) identified fewer participants with underlying muscle store depletion than BIA (41.8%). Chemotherapy exposure acutely exacerbated existing nutritional depletion during the first two months after diagnosis for all variables except fat mass (FM), with contrary effects on cancer type. Haematological malignancies had rapid increases in weight, BMI and FM. All patients had an acute loss of skeletal muscle mass. Nutritional improvement experienced by all cancer types during month two to three of treatment resulted in catch-up growth, with a significant increase in weight (chi2=40.43, p < 0.001), height (chi2=53.79, p < 0.001), BMI (chi2=16.32, p < 0.005), fat free mass (chi2=23.69, p < 0.003) and skeletal muscle mass (chi2=24.19, p < 0.001) after six months. Monthly nutritional assessments, including advanced body composition measurements, are essential to provide timely nutritional interventions to overcome the acute decline in nutritional reserves observed during the first two months of chemotherapy exposure.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:27Signs of Puberty
01:10Nature and Nurture
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
02:53Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...