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