Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/23
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Item Associations of Ferritin and Folate Status With Clinical Outcomes in Childhood Cancer Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study(2025-03-07) Withey, Kalum; Brougham, Mark F. H.; Paciarotti, Ilenia; McKenzie, Jane M.; Wilson, David C.; Revuelta Iniesta, RaquelBackground: Given the limited research on folate and ferritin status in children with cancer undergoing treatment, we investigated the prevalence of abnormalities and their impact on clinical outcomes and treatment complications. Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled children <18 years diagnosed with cancer between August 2010 and February 2014. Data collection occurred at diagnosis, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Clinical outcomes were classified as event‐free survival or events (relapse, death, the development of new metastasis, becoming palliative) and treatment complications. Micronutrient status was assessed through clinical and nutritional analyses. Binary logistic regression, multilevel model analysis explored relationships between micronutrient status and clinical outcomes. Results: Eighty‐two patients (median [interquartile range] 3.9 (1.9–8.8) years, 56% males) were recruited. Excess ferritin (85%) and folate deficiency (25.5%) were prevalent micronutrient abnormalities throughout the study. Decreased ferritin levels reduced the odds of events by 83.9% (odd ratios = 0.161, 95% CI = 1.000–1.002, p = 0.032). Higher ferritin was associated with increased number of treatment‐related complications (B = 7.3E−5, 95% CI = 1.5E−5–0.000, p = 0.013). Folate status showed significant association with body mass index category (χ2 = 9.564, p = 0.008), indicating that overweight and obese patients were more prone to deficiency, and methotrexate (F(2.9); p = 0.06; −2LL (1381)). Haematological malignancies (F(2.8); p = 0.05; −2LL (4244)) and medium and high treatment intensity (F(2.4); p = 0.09; −2LL 4262)) were associated with higher ferritin levels over 18 months. Conclusions: Paediatric cancer patients undergoing treatment exhibit high ferritin and reduced folate levels. Elevated ferritin is linked to increased toxicity and negative clinical outcomes, highlighting the importance of regular assessment and monitoring of both folate and ferritin. Implementing routine monitoring for these biomarkers could help mitigate adverse effects associated with treatment. Large‐scale population‐based studies and clinical trials are now warranted.Item Micronutrient status influences clinical outcomes of paediatric cancer patients during treatment: A prospective cohort study(2021-03-20) Revuelta-Iniesta, Raquel; Gerasimidis, Konstantinos; Paciarotti, Ilenia; McKenzie, Jane; Brougham, Mark F. H.; Wilson, David C.Research reporting plasma micronutrient status and its impact on clinical outcomes in paediatric cancer is scarce. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of plasma micronutrient abnormalities and their impact on clinical outcomes and treatment complications. A multicentre prospective-cohort study of children aged <18 years diagnosed with cancer was performed between Aug 2010-Jan 2014. Clinical and nutritional data were collected at diagnosis, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Micronutrient status was established using in-house laboratory references (vitamin B12, vitamin A and Vitamin E/Ch) and aged adjusted Z-scores (Mg, Se, Zn and Cu) generated from a cohort of healthy Scottish children. Clinical outcomes were classified as "event free survival (EFS)" or "event" (relapse, death, new metastasis or becoming palliative) and treatment complications. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression multilevel analysis were performed. Eighty-two patients [median (IQR) 3.9 (1.9-8.8) years, 56% males] were recruited. Of these, 72 (88%) samples were available, 74% (53/72) patients had micronutrient abnormalities at baseline; deficiencies (25%, 18/72), excesses (19%, 14/72) and a combination of both (29%, 21/72), which continued for 18 months. Vitamin A deficiency (15%, 3/20) and excess (50%, 10/20) were most prevalent at 18 months, whilst vitamin E/Cholesterol and vitamin B12 were mostly within the normal range. Prevalence of Zn deficiency at diagnosis was 36% (16/44 adjusted for CRP), which remained at these levels throughout the study. Reduction in each selenium concentration unit increased the odds of an event by 2% (OR 0.02) and lower Se predicted higher complications at diagnosis [β (-1.2); t (-2.1); 95% CI (-2.9 - (-0.04)); p = 0.04], 3 months [β (-3.9); t (-4.2); 95% CI (-5.57 - (-2.02)); p < 0.001] and 12 months [β (-2.3); t (-2.4); 95% CI (-4.10 - (-0.34)); p = 0.02]. Given the prevalence of micronutrient abnormalities and the negative impact of low selenium on clinical outcome, micronutrient status should be assessed and monitored in paediatric cancer patients. Larger multicentre population based studies and clinical trials are now warranted.Item A systematic review of N-3 and N-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration in childhood cancer patients and associated clinical outcomes(E-Cronicon Open Access, 2019-08-22) Revuelta-Iniesta, Raquel; Wyness, Laura; Wilson, David C.Background: This systematic review evaluated primary research to establish blood omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA); eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-6 PUFA); arachidonic acid (AA) concentration. The effectiveness of their supplementation on clinical and nutritional outcomes and associations between their concentration and clinical and nutritional outcomes were also evaluated.Item Nutritional status of children and adolescents with cancer in Scotland: A prospective cohort study(Elsevier, 2019-05-17) Revuelta-Iniesta, Raquel; Paciarotti, Ilenia; Davidson, Isobel; McKenzie, Jane M.; Brougham, Mark F. H.; Wilson, David C.Background and aims Malnutrition (under and overnutrition) in paediatric cancer patients during and after treatment increases short and long-term side-effects; however, factors contributing to malnutrition and patterns of change in nutritional status are still unclear. The aims were to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition, patterns of change in nutritional status and factors contributing to malnutrition in Scottish paediatric cancer patients.