Recommended European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition protein and energy intakes and weight loss in patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract Background Information regarding attenuation of weight loss in patients with head and neck cancer consuming energy and protein intakes at levels recommended by the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) is limited. Methods Newly diagnosed patients with head and neck cancer ( n = 38) consuming food orally had weight and 3‐day diet records prospectively collected at baseline, the end of treatment, and at the 2.5‐month follow‐up. Weight loss of patients consuming the ESPEN recommendations of ≥30 kcal/kg/d energy and 1.2 g/kg/d protein versus those consuming less were compared. Weight loss of oral nutrition supplement consumers versus oral nutrition supplement nonconsumers was also compared. Results Despite ≥30 kcal/kg/d intakes at posttreatment and follow‐up, mean weight loss was 10.3% from baseline to posttreatment, and 4.0% from posttreatment to follow‐up. At posttreatment, oral nutrition supplement consumers with intakes ≥30 kcal/kg/d lost twice as much weight as nonconsumers with intakes of ≥30 kcal/kg/d ( p = .001). Conclusion Current ESPEN recommendations may not attenuate weight loss in patients with head and neck cancer, especially those consuming oral nutrition supplements. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:1248–1257, 2016