By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNALow carbohydrate diets followed by many cancer patients are unlikely to “starve” cancer cells, but could increase the chances of the patients becoming malnourished, a Chiayi-based hospital has warned. Research has found that between 20 percent and 40 percent of cancer patients die due to malnutrition-related complications, not tumors or their cancer itself, St Martin De Porres Hospital Da Ya Branch said in a statement yesterday. More than 45 percent of cancer patients lose 10 percent or more of their weight while undergoing treatment for their cancer, which highlights the severity of malnutrition and the importance of maintaining a patient’s weight, the hospital said. Hospital nutritionist Chen Ya-chi (陳雅琪) said cancer patients should not be picky about their food as they need adequate intake of rice and carbohydrates to provide the calories their bodies need. Patients undergoing therapy require at least 1.5 to two times the normal protein consumption of regular people, Chen said, adding that insufficient consumption of protein could cause a sudden loss of weight.

Source: Taipei Times March 21, 2018 15:56 UTC