Association Between Body Composition and Protein Intake Among Patients With Breast Cancer in Klang Valley

Main Article Content

Ting Xuan Wong
Tze Xuan Kung
Seong Ting Chen
Krysal Lu Shin Ng
Raflis Ruzairee Awang

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is a catabolic disease that can significantly impact dietary intake and body composition of the patients. This study aimed to evaluate the association between dietary intake and body composition of patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved patients with breast cancer stage I-III visiting a state hospital and a cancer support centre. Socio-demographic, medical history, anthropometric, and dietary data were collected. Body composition was evaluated using a bioimpedance analyser and handgrip strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer. Sarcopenia was defined by low appendicular skeletal muscle index and low handgrip strength according to the cutoff values recommended by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. The associations between the parameters were analysed. Results: A total of 71 patients with median age of 60.7 (50.6 - 67.1) years were recruited. The median BMI of the patients was 25.1 (21.8 – 29.8) kg/m² with majority being obese (55%). About one-third were sarcopenic. The mean energy and protein intake adjusted by body weight were 20 ± 8 kcal/kg/day and 0.9 ± 0.4 g/kg/day, respectively. While no correlation was found between protein intake and skeletal muscle mass, protein intake was negatively correlated with fat mass (r = -0.247, p = 0.038) and fat mass index (r = -0.275, p = 0.020). Conclusion: Sarcopenia was prevalent among patients living with breast cancer and most patients did not meet their nutrition requirements. Protein intake potentially influences body composition, particularly fat mass. These findings warrant the importance of individualised nutritional care for cancer.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Details

How to Cite
Ting Xuan Wong, Tze Xuan Kung, Seong Ting Chen, Krysal Lu Shin Ng, & Raflis Ruzairee Awang. (2026). Association Between Body Composition and Protein Intake Among Patients With Breast Cancer in Klang Valley. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 22(2), 1526. Retrieved from http://mjmhsojs.upm.edu.my/index.php/mjmhs/article/view/1526
Section
Original Articles

References

Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74(3):229–63. doi: 10.3322/caac.21834

Global Cancer Observatory. Malaysia. World Health Organization. Available from: https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/populations/458-malaysia-fact-sheets.pdf

Nicolini A, Ferrari P, Masoni MC, Fini M, Pagani S, Giampietro O, et al. Malnutrition, anorexia and cachexia in cancer patients: A mini-review on pathogenesis and treatment. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy. 2013;67(8):807–17. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2013.08.005

Ramos Chaves M, Boléo-Tomé C, Monteiro-Grillo I, Camilo M, Ravasco P. The Diversity of Nutritional Status in Cancer: New Insights. Oncologist. 2010;15(5):523–30. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2009-0283

Arends J, Baracos V, Bertz H, Bozzetti F, Calder PC, Deutz NEP, et al. ESPEN expert group recommendations for action against cancer-related malnutrition. Clinical Nutrition. 2017;36(5):1187–96. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2017.06.017

Barker LA, Gout BS, Crowe TC. Hospital Malnutrition: Prevalence, Identification and Impact on Patients and the Healthcare System. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011;8(2):514–27. doi: 10.3390/ijerph8020514

Bering T, Maurício SF, Silva JB da, Correia MITD. Nutritional and metabolic status of breast cancer women. Nutr Hosp. 2014;31(2):751–8. doi: 10.3305/nh.2015.31.2.8056

Caan BJ, Meyerhardt JA, Kroenke CH, Alexeeff S, Xiao J, Weltzien E, et al. Explaining the Obesity Paradox: The Association between Body Composition and Colorectal Cancer Survival (C-SCANS Study). Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2017;26(7):1008–15. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-0200

Morlino D, Marra M, Cioffi I, Santarpia L, Placido P De, Giuliano M, et al. Prevalence of Sarcopenia in Women with Breast Cancer. Nutrients. 2022;14(9):1839. doi: 10.3390/nu14091839

Cappellari GG, Brasacchio C, Laudisio D, Lubrano C, Pivari F, Barrea L, et al. Sarcopenic obesity: What about in the cancer setting? Nutrition. 2022;98:111624. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111624

Prado CM, Purcell SA, Laviano A. Nutrition interventions to treat low muscle mass in cancer. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2020;11(2):366–80. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12525

Roberto M, Barchiesi G, Resuli B, Verrico M, Speranza I, Cristofani L, et al. Sarcopenia in Breast Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2024;16(3). doi: 10.3390/cancers16030596

Kiew SJ, Taib NAM, Islam T, Majid HA. Changes in Dietary Intake of Breast Cancer Survivors: Early Findings of a Malaysian Breast Cancer Prospective Cohort Study. Nutr Cancer. 2022;74(7):2470–8. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2021.2013508

Hiesmayr M, Schindler K, Pernicka E, Schuh C, Schoeniger-Hekele A, Bauer P, et al. Decreased food intake is a risk factor for mortality in hospitalised patients: The NutritionDay survey 2006. Clinical Nutrition. 2009;28(5):484–91. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2009.05.013

van Dronkelaar C, Tieland M, Aarden J, Reichardt L, van Seben R, van der Schaaf M, et al. Decreased Appetite is Associated with Sarcopenia-Related Outcomes in Acute Hospitalized Older Adults. Nutrients. 2019;11(4):932. doi: 10.3390/nu11040932

Muscaritoli M, Arends J, Bachmann P, Baracos V, Barthelemy N, Bertz H, et al. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer. Clinical Nutrition. 2021;40(5):2898–913. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.02.005

Machin D, Campbell MJ, Tan SB, Tan SH. Sample Size Tables for Clinical Studies. Wiley; 2008. doi: 10.1002/9781444300710

WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies. The Lancet. 2004;363(9403):157–63. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)15268-3

Chen L-K, Woo J, Assantachai P, Auyeung T-W, Chou M-Y, Iijima K, et al. Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 Consensus Update on Sarcopenia Diagnosis and Treatment. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2020;21(3):300-307.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.12.012

Tee ES, Noor MI, Azudin MN, Idris K. Nutrient composition of Malaysian foods. Kuala Lumpur; 1997.

Food Composition Guide Singapore. Singapore; 2003.

Raffaello WM, Kurniawan A. Sarcopenic Obesity in Cancer Patients: Focus on Pathogenesis. Indonesian Journal of Cancer. 2020;14(3):104. doi: 10.33371/ijoc.v14i3.720

Mifflin M, St Jeor S, Hill L, Scott B, Daugherty S, Koh Y. A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;51(2):241–7. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/51.2.241

Goldberg GR, Black AE, Jebb SA, Cole TJ, Murgatroyd PR, Coward WA, et al. Critical evaluation of energy intake data using fundamental principles of energy physiology: 1. Derivation of cut-off limits to identify under-recording. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1991;45(12):569–81.

Majid HA, Keow LP, Islam T, Su TT, Cantwell M, Taib NA, et al. Nutritional Status of Breast Cancer Survivors 1 Year after Diagnosis: A Preliminary Analysis from the Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivorship Cohort Study. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2018;118(4):705–13. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2017.05.024

Shahril MR, Amirfaiz S, Lua PL, Nurnazahiah A, Zakarai NS, Kow VL, et al. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among breast cancer survivors in East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):238. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10288-9

Engin A. Obesity-associated Breast Cancer: Analysis of risk factors. In 2017. p. 571–606. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-48382-5_25

Ecker BL, Lee JY, Sterner CJ, Solomon AC, Pant DK, Shen F, et al. Impact of obesity on breast cancer recurrence and minimal residual disease. Breast Cancer Research. 2019;21(1):41. doi: 10.1186/s13058-018-1087-7

Jiralerspong S, Goodwin PJ. Obesity and Breast Cancer Prognosis: Evidence, Challenges, and Opportunities. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2016;34(35):4203–16. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.68.4480

Lee K, Kruper L, Dieli-Conwright CM, Mortimer JE. The Impact of Obesity on Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment. Curr Oncol Rep. 2019;21(5):41. doi: 10.1007/s11912-019-0787-1

Donini LM, Pinto A, Giusti AM, Lenzi A, Poggiogalle E. Obesity or BMI Paradox? Beneath the Tip of the Iceberg. Front Nutr. 2020;7. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00053

Chlebowski RT, Aragaki AK, Pan K, Simon MS, Neuhouser ML, Haque R, et al. Breast cancer incidence and mortality by metabolic syndrome and obesity: The Women’s Health Initiative. Cancer. 2024;130(18):3147–56. doi: 10.1002/cncr.35318

Berg MMGA, Winkels RM, Kruif JTCM, Laarhoven HWM, Visser M, Vries JHM, et al. Weight change during chemotherapy in breast cancer patients: A meta-analysis. BMC Cancer. 2017;17(1). doi: 10.1186/s12885-017-3242-4

Godinho-Mota JCM, Mota JF, Gonçalves LV, Soares LR, Schincaglia RM, Prado CM, et al. Chemotherapy negatively impacts body composition, physical function and metabolic profile in patients with breast cancer. Clinical Nutrition. 2021;40(5):3421–8. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.11.020

Jang MK, Park S, Raszewski R, Park CG, Doorenbos AZ, Kim S. Prevalence and clinical implications of sarcopenia in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Vol. 32, Supportive Care in Cancer. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH; 2024. doi: 10.1007/s00520-024-08532-0

Aleixo GFP, Williams GR, Nyrop KA, Muss HB, Shachar SS. Muscle composition and outcomes in patients with breast cancer: meta-analysis and systematic review. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2019;177(3):569–79. doi: 10.1007/s10549-019-05352-3

Schleicher EA, Madzima T, Ormsbee MJ, Pappas C, Panton L. Relationship Between Dietary Protein Intake and Body Composition in Breast Cancer Survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015;47(5S):452. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000477670.61993.73

Mallard J, Hucteau E, Hureau TJ, Pagano AF. Skeletal Muscle Deconditioning in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: Current Knowledge and Insights From Other Cancers. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021;9. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.719643

Klassen O, Schmidt ME, Ulrich CM, Schneeweiss A, Potthoff K, Steindorf K, et al. Muscle strength in breast cancer patients receiving different treatment regimes. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2017;8(2):305–16. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12165

Argilés JM, Busquets S, Stemmler B, López-Soriano FJ. Cachexia and sarcopenia: mechanisms and potential targets for intervention. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2015;22:100–6. doi: 10.1016/j.coph.2015.04.003

Godinho-Mota JCM, Mota JF, Gonçalves LV, Soares LR, Schincaglia RM, Prado CM, et al. Chemotherapy negatively impacts body composition, physical function and metabolic profile in patients with breast cancer. Clinical Nutrition. 2021;40(5):3421–8. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.11.020

Caan BJ, Feliciano EMC, Prado CM, Alexeeff S, Kroenke CH, Bradshaw P, et al. Association of Muscle and Adiposity Measured by Computed Tomography With Survival in Patients With Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer. JAMA Oncol. 2018;4(6):798. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.0137

Lee YL, Islam T, Danaee M, Taib NA. A longitudinal study of physical activity among Malaysian breast cancer survivors. PLoS One. 2022;17(11 November). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277982

Joaquim A, Leão I, Antunes P, Capela A, Viamonte S, Alves AJ, et al. Impact of physical exercise programs in breast cancer survivors on health-related quality of life, physical fitness, and body composition: Evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Front Oncol. 2022;12. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.955505

Volpato S, Bianchi L, Lauretani F, Lauretani F, Bandinelli S, Guralnik JM, et al. Role of Muscle Mass and Muscle Quality in the Association Between Diabetes and Gait Speed. Diabetes Care. 2012;35(8):1672–9. doi: 10.2337/dc11-2202

Lu Z, Hu Y, He H, Chen X, Ou Q, Liu Y, et al. Associations of muscle mass, strength, and quality with diabetes and the mediating role of inflammation in two National surveys from China and the United states. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2024;214:111783. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111783

Lee S-B, Moon J-E, Kim J-K. Association of Handgrip Strength with Diabetes Mellitus in Korean Adults According to Sex. Diagnostics. 2022;12(8):1874. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics12081874

Tuğral A, Arıbaş Z, Akyol M, Bakar Y. Assessment of sensorimotor and strength related function of breast cancer patients during systemic drug therapy: a prospective observational study. BMC Cancer. 2023;23(1):981. doi: 10.1186/s12885-023-11494-x

Jamhuri N, Zaidah MYSF, Zaharah AJ, Sharina MHLB, Neoh M, Aeininhayatey A, et al. Prevalence of malnutrition among hospitalised adult cancer patients at the National Cancer Institute, Putrajaya, Malaysia. Malays J Nutr. 2017;23:161–74.

Menon K, Razak SA, Ismail KA, Krishna BVM. Nutrient intake and nutritional status of newly diagnosed patients with cancer from the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. BMC Res Notes. 2014;7(1):680. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-680

Ford KL, Orsso CE, Kiss N, Johnson SB, Purcell SA, Gagnon A, et al. Dietary choices after a cancer diagnosis: A narrative review. Nutrition. 2022;103–104:111838. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2022.111838

Shaharudin SH, Sulaiman S, Shahril MR, Emran NA, Akmal SN. Dietary Changes Among Breast Cancer Patients in Malaysia. Cancer Nurs. 2013;36(2):131–8. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e31824062d1

Suárez-Varela MMM, Simon AR, Lopez-Anton AB, Tormo SB, Climente IP, Bautista MR, et al. Protein intake in women with breast cancer before, during, and after treatment. 2018;2:1006.

Capitão C, Coutinho D, Neves PM, Capelas ML, Pimenta NM, Santos T, et al. Protein intake and muscle mass maintenance in patients with cancer types with high prevalence of sarcopenia: a systematic review. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2022;30(4):3007–15. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06633-8

Manikam NRM, Andrijono A, Witjaksono F, Kekalih A, Sunaryo J, Widya AS, et al. Dynamic Changes in Body Composition and Protein Intake in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Preliminary Study. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2024;25(2):555–62. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.2.555

Tah PC, Wan LY, Ng GL, Lau WHC, Mohamad Som N, Abu Hassan Shaari NS. Medical Nutrition Therapy Guidelines for Cancer in Adults Working Group Committee. 2013.