Empowering Oncology Care: Clinical Evidence for Improving Patient Outcomes

  • Clinical Conditions

Food alone is often insufficient to cover all your cancer patients’ nutritional needs 1-2

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 ESPEN recognises the importance of supplementing food with medical nutrition as an integral part of cancer care.**2  Dietary challenges such as appetite decline and reduced protein intake, and lifestyle choices, such as a plant-based diet, and sensory issues may impact nutritional intake and overall health. 3-10

A minimalistic icon featuring a sad face on a plate, accompanied by a fork and knife. The design is set within a circular pink background, emphasizing simplicity and emotion. The image conveys themes of hunger or dissatisfaction with food.
Appetite decline

Almost two thirds of cancer patients have experienced eating problems as a consequence of their treatment. They report they eat less due to a loss of appetite, feeling full quickly, and not feeling like eating. A significant 57% of patients report having lost more than 10% of their body weight during cancer.³

 

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Sensory issues

Up to 70% of patients with cancer experience taste and smell changes, that may develop throughout the course of the disease and up to 1 year after treatment.⁷ Alterations in the senses can lead to a reduction in food intake resulting in increased weight loss.⁷⁻⁸

 

 

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Reduced protein intake

Patients with cancer need up to twice as much protein as healthy adults⁴⁻⁵ but up to 2 in 3 patients are not meeting their recommended protein requirements.⁶

 

 

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Plant-based lifestyle

29% of Australians use plant-based, milk alternatives at least once per week and the number is increasing.⁹ In the next 12 months, 34% of Australians are likely to become vegan or vegetarian.¹⁰ For these patients, ESPEN recognises the importance of supplementing food with medical nutrition as an integral part of cancer care.²

Help maximise cancer treatment with the right medical nutrition

Bar chart comparing compact protein intake versus standard care across four treatment stages: baseline, end of 1st cycle, end of 2nd cycle, and week 12. Compact protein consistently shows higher percentages, peaking at 88% during two cycles. Numeric values include 65%, 45%, 88%, 55%, 40%, 77%, and 55%. Purple and pink tones differentiate the two categories.

Cancer-related malnutrition

Fortisip Compact Protein our low volume, high protein formula enabled patients with cancer to meet ESPEN recommended protein intake. 6

For the dietary management of patients with or at risk of disease related malnutrition

Cancer-related malnutrition and taste alterations

Fortisip Compact Protein Sensations, our compact high protein formula with sensory-adapted flavours has been validated as ‘liked by patients’ undergoing cancer treatment11 and provides a cool or warm taste sensation.

92-94% liked

Cool Red Fruit

A circular infographic highlights survey results with 68% of participants favoring Hot Tropical Ginger. The design features an orange gradient ring and bold text in orange and purple. The visual is clean and modern, emphasizing the numeric data prominently.

65-69% liked

Hot Tropical Ginger

For the dietary management of disease related malnutrition.

Cancer-related malnutrition and dairy alternative

Fortisip Compact Protein Sensations, our compact high protein formula with sensory-adapted flavours has been validated as ‘liked by patients’ undergoing cancer treatment11 and provides a cool or warm taste sensation.

Fortisip PlantBased our unique vegan formula is a high-quality blend of pea and soy protein that achieved greater compliance than baseline~ Prescribed ONS 12 and is suitable as a sole Plant-based source of nutrition.#

For the dietary management of patients with or at risk of disease related malnutrition due to cancer, chronic catabolic disease or cachexia.

Download our Empowering Oncology Care booklet for summaries of the latest clinical evidence to improve patient outcomes.

Fortisip products are food for special medical purposes and must be used under medical supervision.

^Compared to healthy adults, whose protein requirements is 0.84 g/kg/day, adults with cancer are recommended to have >1.2g/kg/day and up to 2g/kg/day.

** According to ESPEN guidelines, the additional use of ONS is advised when an enriched diet is not effective in reaching nutritional goals. Medical nutrition is indicated if patients are unable to eat adequately (e.g. less than 50% of the requirement for more than one week or only 50–75% of the requirement for more than two weeks).

~ Prior to commencing the study patients (n=8) were taking a different oral nutritional supplement.

#In accordance with Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Standard 2.9.5.

Caccialanza R, et al. Supp Care in Cancer Jul 2022.
Muscaritoli M, et al. Oncotarget Advance Publications. Aug 2017;1-13.
Data on file: IPSOS, Nutrition in Cancer Care survey. 2023.
Arends J, et al. ESMO Open. 2021;6(3):100092.
Arends J, et al. Clin Nutr. 2017;36(1):11-48.
Dingemans AM, et al. Nutrients. 2023;15(24):5030.
Spotten LE, et al. Ann Oncol. 2017;28(5):969-984
Brisbois TD, et al. J Pain Symptom Manae. 2011;41:673-83.
Plant Based Eating. CHOICE 2021.
Understanding the New Asian Consumer. PwC, Rabobank and Temasek 2020. Available at: The Asia Food Challenge 2021 (pwc.co.nz) (Accessed September 2023).
de Haan JJ, et al. Support Care Cancer. 2021;29:5691-9.
Nutricia UK ACBS trial, data on file 2022.

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