Conclusion
The current study shows that diet quality of children undergoing
treatment for cancer is generally poor. Given the high survivorship
rates and increased risk of chronic disease, information provided during
treatment should focus on educating parents on a healthy diet for their
child, the importance of establishing healthy eating habits for life,
and strategies to overcome barriers to intake during treatment. We no
longer need to use nutrition therapy as a “one-size-fits-all” approach
but should be based on treatment protocols and their nutrition risk.
There needs to be further longitudinal research assessing change in
dietary intake throughout treatment. There is also a need for greater
research on whether the dietary quality of patients can be improved
during cancer therapy with targeted interventions. Future research is
also required to determine whether specific dietary patterns improve
survival both during and after treatment.