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Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation pp 1–23Cite as

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Malnutrition in Cancer

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Abstract

Significant weight loss caused by malnutrition seems to be one of the leading symptoms associated with cancer development. Presence of malnutrition in oncologic patients is most frequently a result of insufficient nutrition and overactivation of inflammatory response. It leads to progressive wasting of the body as a consequence of the increased body catabolism and changes in body composition, and even may develop cancer cachexia – a systemic wasting that cannot be completely compensated by conventional nutrition support. In numerous cancer patients, presence of malnutrition is commonly a first indicator and symptom of the tumor development. The nutrition status of such patients is significantly associated with risk of the disease complication during therapy and may result in extension of patients’ hospitalization. Moreover, in some group of cancer individuals, the progressive malnutrition leading to cachexia is a main cause of death and not underlying disease. Based on above facts early malnutrition assessment is required for cancer nutritional support. There are various tools used in nutritional status evaluation in the form of scales, questionnaires or risk assessments, anthropometric examinations, and biochemical tests. Despite that they provide a valuable information about patient’s nutrition status, also require arrangement various method of their evaluation. Currently, the particular attention is drawn into imaging tools which could provide as a single method the assessment of a body composition. Among these tools the bioelectrical impedance analysis serves as an objective, reliable, and noninvasive method of malnutrition assessment. Bioelectrical impedance analysis measures body compositions electronically, and parameters obtained during examination refer to body vitality at a cellular level, e.g., fluid distribution in the body, fat mass or fat free mass. Also, other parameters derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis demonstrate high clinical utility in malnutrition assessment in cancer patients.

Appropriate evaluation of body composition in cancer patients may provide diagnostic or prognostic information, which seems more valuable than weight loss or body mass index change. In present study the literature review of bioelectrical impedance analysis usefulness in cancer malnutrition assessment is described.

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Abbreviations

BCM:

Body cell mass

BF:

Body fat

BIA:

Bioelectrical impedance analysis

BMI:

Body mass index

Cm:

Capacitance of membrane

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

ECM:

Extracellular mass

ECW:

Extracellular water

FFM:

Fat free mass

FM:

Fat mass

HCC:

Hepatocellular carcinoma

HNC:

Head and neck cancer

ICW:

Intracellular water

LBM:

Lean body mass

NSCLC:

Non–small cell lung cancer

PA:

Phase angle

R:

Resistance

SGA:

Subjective global assessment

TBW:

Total body water

Xc:

Reactance

Z:

Impedance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Physiology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland

    Teresa Małecka-Massalska, Tomasz Powrózek & Radosław Mlak

Authors
  1. Teresa Małecka-Massalska
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  2. Tomasz Powrózek
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  3. Radosław Mlak
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Teresa Małecka-Massalska .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes & Nutritional Sci Div Sch, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

    Victor Preedy

  2. Clinical Biochemistry, University of Westminster, Westminster, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Małecka-Massalska, T., Powrózek, T., Mlak, R. (2017). Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Malnutrition in Cancer. In: Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Handbook of Famine, Starvation, and Nutrient Deprivation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40007-5_17-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40007-5_17-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-40007-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-40007-5

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