Intentional modifications to the diet are being investigated as a strategy to reduce chronic cancer-related fatigue, according to new data published in the journal Nutrition & Cancer by researchers with The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Chronic fatigue is the main lingering side effect of cancer treatment among all cancer survivors. Research has shown that persistent fatigue has been linked to depression, anxiety, and overall reduced quality of life.
“This is especially prevalent for lymphoma patients, where up to 60% of survivors specifically report fatigue that lasts beyond treatment completion,” said Tonya Orchard, lead author of the study and an associate professor in the College of Education and Human Ecology. “We believe that there are some foods rich in specific nutrients that may help reduce inflammation in the body and help improve fatigue.”
For this study, researchers wanted to know if it was feasible to recruit and retain lymphoma survivors in a remotely delivered nutrition counselling intervention that focused on nutrient-rich whole foods to improve fatigue symptoms. The Ohio State research team recruited 10 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma to participate in a pilot study of a 12-week dietary intervention to reduce fatigue and improve overall diet quality.
Previously published data suggest that dietary interventions with an intentional focus on increasing levels of lycopene and other carotenoids from colourful foods, certain B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids (obtained from whole foods – meaning not from pills or dietary supplements) can result in meaningful change that increases the quality of life.
For this pilot study, all participants had completed chemotherapy and been in remission for at least two years.
Patients received one-on-one nutrition counselling from a registered dietitian nutritionist over four weeks and four bi-weekly sessions. Participants were asked to incorporate into their diet whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and fatty fish or plant-based foods with high levels of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA).
Participants were given goals for the various groups and could choose whichever specific foods they liked. The overall goal was to improve diet quality. Specific food goals included: eating at least one high vitamin C fruit a day; one yellow or orange vegetable a day; one tomato serving a day; one leafy green serving a day; 3 servings of whole grains a day; and 2 servings of omega-3 fatty acid rich foods a day, whether plant or seafood-based.
The dietary pattern was based on previously published research from one of the study co-investigator, Dr Suzanna Zick, suggesting that foods rich in carotenoids, lycopene, certain B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids improved fatigue in breast cancer survivors.
“It may be the synergistic effect of the nutrient-rich foods that create healthful changes in our bodies long term. There is much that we don’t understand about this process yet,” said Anna Maria Bittoni, a dietitian with the OSUCCC – James and study coauthor.
Participants were given a dietary intervention booklet with specific food lists to fit each category and suggested ways to use them in sample recipes. Dietitians then worked with cancer survivors to provide counselling on making sustainable dietary changes and addressing potential barriers to the implementation of these dietary changes, such as taste preferences, cooking skills and time limitations. The intervention was tailored to the individual to address both dietary preferences and behavioural barriers.
Results of the study suggest that this remote “telehealth” format was feasible and acceptable for this group of lymphoma survivors. Researchers were able to retain 90% of the participants in the 12-week intervention and adherence to study goals was high. By the end of the intervention, participants were able to meet goals for intake of specific food groups an average of 4.8-6.1 days of the week.
The researchers wanted to assess the effectiveness of dietary interventions in promoting healthier eating habits among participants.
The results of the study showed a significant increase in the consumption of whole fruits, with participants consuming an average of 1.28 cups per day, and an increase of .83 cups per day for non-juice fruits such as citrus, melon, and berries. Vegetable intake also saw a significant increase, with participants increasing their intake from 2.05 cups per day to 3.76 cups per day.
Additionally, the study found that the consumption of omega-3 PUFA fish increased from 1.76 servings per day to 3.75 servings per day, while whole grain consumption rose from 1.2 servings per day to 3.65 daily.
The pilot study also showed that participants significantly increased their Healthy Eating Index 2015 score, which is an established metric for an overall healthful eating pattern based on U.S. Department of Agriculture dietary recommendations.
Self-reported fatigue, as measured through the PROMIS (patient-reported outcome measure information system) fatigue score, was significantly reduced after the intervention. Researchers note that this is encouraging preliminary data, suggesting that the dietary intervention may be effective in reducing cancer-related fatigue. Because the study had no control group, however, additional research is needed to test this.
“More patients are surviving and living well beyond cancer. As we look at the bigger picture of survivorship, it is so important that we acknowledge and address the long-term side effects of cancer and cancer treatment, such as chronic fatigue. Diet is an accessible and realistic opportunity to make a positive impact on quality of life for cancer survivors, and is worthy of further investigation,” said Orchard.
The first author of the study manuscript is registered dietitian nutritionist, Kellie Weinhold. Coauthors include OSU human nutrition student, Sarah Light and coinvestigator, Dr Suzanna Zick.
Study collaborators include registered dietitian nutritionist, Emily Botello and OSUCCC-James physicians Dr Kami Maddocks and Dr Beth Christian.
