Effect of Chemotherapy on Diet and Nutritional Status of AML Patients: A Prospective Study

Introduction: Dietary changes, such as eating smaller meals and avoiding some food groups are common side effects of chemotherapy. This changes damage dietary intake and nutritional status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Chemotherapy on Diet and Nutritional Status of AML patients.Methods: This prospective longitudinal study was conducted in 2016–2017 in hematology and oncology wards at Shariati Hospital, Tehran university of medical sciences, Tehran, Iran. 50 AML patients were followed and data were gathered at three different times. Anthropometric and dietary assessments were assessed by using nine 24h dietary recalls, by using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), and computing the prevalence of inadequacy by the EAR cut-off point method.Results: According to HEI analysis, at the beginning, the 48% of AML patients had a diet requires alteration (T1, 48%, n = 24). Also, during treatment, 54 % of AML patients had a diet requires alteration (T2, 54 %, n = 27). Though, after the end of the CT, the majority of patients (T3, 60%, n = 30) were classified as having an insufficient diet .There was a significant reduction in the consumption of Energy, macro and micronutrients. Total calories intake exhibited significant reduction during chemotherapy (p = 0.01). Regarding macronutrients, there was significant reduction in consumption of carbohydrate, lipid and protein during treatment (respectively, p = 0.01, p = 0.00 and p = 0.01). About micronutrients, data analysis revealed, Nutrients intake change significantly during treatment exception of Riboflavin, pantothenic acid, manganese and Sodium.Milk and Dairy Products, Vegetables and Meats intake declined significantly during Chemotherapy (p = 0.00, p = 0.03 and p = 0.01 respectively). Weight, BMI and Waist Circumference decreased significantly, demonstrating a critical nutritional status.Conclusion: Chemotherapy interferes with energy, macro and micronutrients intake of AML patients. This interferes deteriorates nutritional status and decrease in anthropometric measurements.Chemotherapy, AML, dietary intake, nutritional status, micronutrient, macronutrient