Nutrition and lifestyle-related factors as predictors of muscle atrophy in hematological cancer patients

Background: Cancer and side effects from cytostatic treatment commonly affect nutritional status manifested as a decrease in muscle mass. We aimed to investigate the impact of nutrition and lifestyle-related factors on muscle mass in patients with hematological cancer. Methods: Dietary intake, food preferences, quality of life (QoL), and physical activity level (PAL) were monitored during 1–2 cytostatic treatment series. Body composition was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Results: 61 patients were included. Weight loss and loss of muscle mass were detected in 64% and 59% of the patients, respectively. Muscle mass was significantly positively correlated to increasing PAL (p = 0.003), while negatively correlated to increasing age (p = 0.03), physical QoL (p = 0.007), functional QoL (p = 0.05), self-perceived health (p = 0.004), and self-perceived QoL (p = 0.007). Weight was significantly positively correlated to increased intake of soft drinks (p = 0.02) as well as the favoring of bitter grain and cereal products (p = 0.03), while negatively correlated to increasing age (p = 0.03) and increasing meat intake (p = 0.009) Conclusions: Several nutritional and lifestyle-related factors affected change in body composition. The clinical significance of these changes should be investigated in controlled, interventional studies.