Sarcopenia , as defined by reduced muscle mass alone , was found to be very prevalent in patients with lung cancer , regardless of body mass index , and where present was associated with poorer functional status and overall survival .
The effect of nutritional supplements and ATP infusions on muscle mass showed conflicting results .
There are very limited data on the correlation between degree of sarcopenia and muscle function , which has a non-linear relationship in older non-cancer population s. CONCLUSIONS Loss of muscle mass is a significant contributor to morbidity in patients with lung cancer .
OBJECTIVES There is growing awareness of the relationship between sarcopenia ( loss of muscle mass and function ) , and outcomes in cancer , making it a potential target for future therapies .
In order to inform future research and practice , we undertook a systematic review of factors associated with loss of muscle mass , and the relationship between muscle function and muscle mass in lung cancer , a common condition associated with poor outcomes .
Nutritional status of patients undergoing lung cancer operations.
BACKGROUND Patients referred for lung cancer operations were reported to be nutritionally depleted . This may be relevant in determining patient outcome after surgical procedures . A study was undertaken to measure a range of nutritional variables including dietary intake of patients referred to a regional cardiothoracic center for curative lung cancer operations . METHODS Anthropometric measurements , grip strength , fat-free mass ( FFM ) , serum protein concentrations , lymphocyte count , creatinine-height index , subjective global assessment , and data on daily intakes of energy , protein , and vitamin C  were collected prospect ively . Anthropometric indices were also measured in a group of control patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . RESULTS Sixty patients and 22 control patients were recruited .  Weight , skin-fold thickness , and grip strength were not significantly different between patients and control patients , and both groups were similar to the general population . However , 8 patients ( 13.3 % ) had a body mass index ( BMI ) less than 20 , and 14 patients ( 24.1 % ) had a fat-free mass index less than 15 . Serum albumin and transferrin concentrations and lymphocyte count were very rarely depressed but prealbumin and retinol-binding protein levels were below normal in 11.9 % and 8.3 % of patients , respectively . Thirty percent of patients reported low energy intake , 13 % reported a low protein intake , and 61.7 % had reduced vitamin  C  intake . CONCLUSIONS Severe nutritional depletion was uncommon in patients referred for operations for lung cancer and its frequency may have been overestimated in some previous reports . A low intake of vitamin C  was common in our patients but its clinical significance is unclear
Sarcopenia , as defined by reduced muscle mass alone , was found to be very prevalent in patients with lung cancer , regardless of body mass index , and where present was associated with poorer functional status and overall survival .
The effect of nutritional supplements and ATP infusions on muscle mass showed conflicting results .
There are very limited data on the correlation between degree of sarcopenia and muscle function , which has a non-linear relationship in older non-cancer population s. CONCLUSIONS Loss of muscle mass is a significant contributor to morbidity in patients with lung cancer .
OBJECTIVES There is growing awareness of the relationship between sarcopenia ( loss of muscle mass and function ) , and outcomes in cancer , making it a potential target for future therapies .
In order to inform future research and practice , we undertook a systematic review of factors associated with loss of muscle mass , and the relationship between muscle function and muscle mass in lung cancer , a common condition associated with poor outcomes .