Muscle mass important for cancer sufferers
Posted on 2008-12-19 09:33:25 in
Cancer |
Musculoskeletal |
Body composition appears to be of key importance when it comes to surviving cancer, as researchers have found that cancer patients with more lean muscle mass live longer.
Body composition appears to be of key importance when it comes to surviving cancer, as researchers have found that cancer patients with more lean muscle mass live longer.
The study of 250 obese cancer patients revealed that patients with depleted muscle mass – a recently recognized condition known as sarcopenic obesity – lived, on average, for 10 months less than obese patients with more muscle mass. Participants with sarcopenic obesity were also more likely to be bedridden. Study leader Professor Vickie Baracos says muscle mass could even effect how patients respond to chemotherapy.
The authors concluded: “This study provides evidence of the great variability of body composition in patients with cancer and links body composition, especially sarcopenic obesity, to clinical implications such as functional status, survival, and potentially, chemotherapy toxicity.”
Prado CMM, Lieffers JR, McCargar LJ, et al. Prevalence and clinical implications of sarcopenic obesity in patients with solid tumours of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts: a population-based study. The Lancet Oncology. 2008;9:629-635.
Health Headlines MORE »
Capsaicin (found in hot peppers) and capsiates (present in sweet peppers) exert modest weight management benefits.
While over 20% of U.S. adults receive periodic health examinations each year, many do not receive recommended preventive screening tests and counseling services
Researchers from Norway suggest a mechanism by which stress may make a person fat, and being obese may create stress.
Swedish researchers report that people who are short on sleep experience greater levels of hunger.
Among women with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), regular physical activity helps to reduce anxiety, irritability, feelings of tension, low energy and pain.
For every 100 mg per-day increase in magnesium in the diet, stroke risk may decline by up to 9%.
The best male marathon runners over age 65, and the best female marathon runners over age 45, continue to consistently improve their performance.
UCLA-led team safely uses human embryonic stem cells to treat macular degeneration.
First-of-its-kind study reports that indoor air in offices is an important source of worker exposure to potentially toxic substances.
Twenty percent of Americans ages 18+ experienced a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in 2010.
