Associations of Nutritional Status, Oxidative Parameters, and Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients Before, During, and After Chemotherapy

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to assess the associations between nutritional status, oxidative parameters, and quality of life before, during, and after chemotherapy (CT) in breast cancer patients. Material and Method: Clinical, anthropometric, demographic, quality of life, blood oxidative marker level, and dietary intake data of breast cancer patients who planned to CT were recorded. All collected data were compared between pre-CT, mid-CT, and post-CT time points. Results: Fifty women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and would start CT treatment were included in the study. Post-CT body weight and body mass index were significantly lower than the pre-CT values (p˂0.001). They both turned back to pre-CT levels at the end of CT with a decrease in total daily caloric and macronutrient intake. Consumption of specific food groups significantly decreased compared to their pre-CT consumption levels (p˂0.001). Blood oxidative stress marker analysis revealed a significant reduction in glutathione peroxidase levels with CT (p=0.007). Analysis of the quality-of-life scores revealed that post-CT scores were significantly higher than the pre-CT scores while the life quality was lowest in the mid-CT period. Conclusion: Adequate energy intake and antioxidant intake should be recommended to these patients during CT via dietary counseling to maintain healthy anthropometric measures, oxidative hemostasis, and quality of life.