Pathways to Prevention Next Steps: Nutrition as Prevention for Improved Cancer Outcomes

In July 2022, the National Institutes of Health convened a Pathways to Prevention (P2P) workshop to examine key questions, identify related knowledge gaps, and provide recommendations to advance understanding about the effects of nutritional interventions.

The panel identified the need for further rigorous, well-defined nutritional intervention studies among adults with cancer to evaluate the effects on symptoms and cancer-specific outcomes, as well as effects of intentional weight loss during or before treatment in people with obesity. Finally, the panel recommended assessing cost effectiveness to potentially inform coverage decisions.

Evidence presented at the P2P workshop reported inconsistent results across a heterogeneous group of randomized clinical trials, with a majority rated as low quality. Potential was raised for nutritional interventions to reduce the adverse effects associated with malnutrition in people with cancer. Baseline screening for malnutrition risk using a validated instrument following cancer diagnosis and repeated screening during and after treatment to monitor nutritional well-being was recommended. Leave this session able to show why patients at risk of malnutrition should be referred to a registered dietitian nutritionist for more in-depth nutritional assessment and intervention.

Planned with the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group

CPE Level: Level 2 (intermediate knowledge/experience)
CPEU: 1.0

Performance Indicators

• 3.3.2 Collaborates with intra- and inter-profession team members to ensure client access to services.
• 2.3.4 Identifies opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships with individuals or organizations with shared visions.
• 10.3.5 Establishes nutrition care plans, defining the time, frequency, and duration of interventions.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the malnutrition care pathway recommended for patients with cancer and the importance of regular monitoring, referrals, and using validated instruments.
• Define the gaps in our current evidence base for nutritional interventional studies among adults with cancer.
• Describe best practices for interprofessional collaborations to address gaps identified by this NIH workshop to advance our understanding about the effects of nutritional interventions.

Moderator

• Jill Hamilton-Reeves

Speakers

• Elaine Trujillo
• Steven Dehmer
• Marcus Goncalves