Nutritional Status in Pediatric Oncology Care
Summary
Nutritional status is a critical determinant of tolerance to therapy, immune competence and long-term growth in children undergoing cancer treatment. Both undernutrition and overnutrition can arise from the malignancy itself, its metabolic demands and the side effects of multimodal therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Undernutrition manifests as loss of lean tissue, impaired wound healing and heightened infection risk, whereas excessive weight gain may predispose to adverse cardiometabolic outcomes and reduce treatment efficacy. Accurate assessment relies on anthropometric measures such as body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference and skinfold thickness, complemented by biochemical and functional indicators. Despite its pivotal role, nutritional care remains inconsistently integrated into paediatric oncology pathways. Early identification of risk, routine monitoring at diagnosis, during treatment and in survivorship, and tailored interventions—ranging from dietary counselling and oral supplementation to enteral or parenteral support—are essential components of holistic cancer care. Collaboration among oncologists, dietitians, nursing staff and families fosters shared decision-making and optimises outcomes across diverse healthcare settings worldwide.
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Nutritional Status in Pediatric Oncology Care publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutritional status in pediatric oncology care across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nutritional status: The balance of nutrient intake, absorption and utilisation reflected in body composition, growth and biochemical markers.
Malnutrition: A state of undernutrition or overnutrition that adversely affects body function and treatment outcomes in oncology.
Body mass index (BMI): An index of weight-for-height (kg/m2) used to classify underweight, normal weight and overweight categories in children.
Undernutrition: A deficiency of energy and nutrients causing weight loss, muscle wasting and impaired physiological function.
Overnutrition: Excessive nutrient intake leading to increased fat mass and potential metabolic complications.
References
- Role of Nutrition in Pediatric Patients with Cancer. Nutrients (2023).
- Management of Nutritional Needs in Pediatric Oncology: A Consensus Statement. Cancers (2022).
- Trends in age- and sex-adjusted body mass index and the prevalence of malnutrition in children with cancer over 42 months after diagnosis: a single-center cohort study. European Journal of Pediatrics (2019).
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