| Popis: |
Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess, through anthropometric and biochemical parameters, the positive effect on growth of enteral nutrition support in children with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Material and Method: Forty-three consecutive patients newly diagnosed with pediatric malignant disease and receiving intensive chemotherapy were included. Twenty-six patients received an enteral nutrition formula. Seventeen control patients did not receive enteral nutrition formula. Anthropometric parameters (weight, height, body mass index, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thickness), serum albumin, prealbumin and transferrin levels and lipid profiles were measured at time of diagnosis and the 3rd month. Results: At the end of 3 months we determined a marked increase in subscapular and suprailiac skin fold thicknesses in the enteral nutrition group compared to at time of diagnosis (p=0.01 and p=0.014, respectively). Prealbumin and albumin values increased considerably after 3 months of enteral nutrition formula support (p=0.005 and p=0.006, respectively). Weight percentile increment was deter-mined (69.2% of patients) in the enteral nutrition group compared to at time of diagnosis. At 3 months, albumin and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses values were higher in the enteral nutrition group as compared to controls (p=0.012 and p=0.017, respectively). There were no significant changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters in the control group at the end of treatment compared to at time of diagnosis. Discussion: This study demonstrates an improvement in anthropometric and biochemical parameters in children with cancer receiving an enteral nutrition formula. © Journal of Clinical and Analytical Medicine. |
