Oral Cryotherapy Shows Promise in Reducing Chemotherapy-Related Malnutrition

Researchers from Karadeniz Technical University have conducted a study evaluating the effectiveness of oral cryotherapy in alleviating chemotherapy-induced taste alterations, appetite loss, and malnutrition risk in patients undergoing chemotherapy. The randomized controlled trial enrolled 65 patients and used a range of validated tools to assess their nutritional risk, taste alteration, and quality of life. The results showed that patients receiving oral cryotherapy experienced significant improvements in appetite, quality of life, and reduced taste alteration and discomfort, compared to those receiving standard care.

Key Takeaways:

• The study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral cryotherapy on chemotherapy-induced taste alteration, appetite, nutritional risk, and quality of life in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 65 patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy, with participants assigned to either an intervention group receiving oral cryotherapy plus standard care or a control group receiving standard care only.
• Patients in the intervention group reported significantly lower levels of taste alteration and discomfort, alongside higher appetite and overall quality of life scores (p < 0.001).
• The study highlighted the potential of oral cryotherapy as a supportive care strategy, warranting confirmation in larger, multi-center studies.
• The researchers used validated tools such as the Chemotherapy-Induced Taste Alteration Scale (CITAS), the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ), the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), and the EORTC QLQ-C30 to assess patient outcomes.
• The study's findings emphasize the importance of exploring non-pharmacological interventions to alleviate chemotherapy-related side effects and improve patient outcomes.

Statistics:

• 65 patients were enrolled in the study, with 32 assigned to the intervention group and 33 to the control group.
• Patients receiving oral cryotherapy reported significant improvements in appetite (mean increase 3.4, p = 0.001), quality of life (mean increase 12.5, p < 0.001), and reduced taste alteration (mean decrease 2.3, p < 0.001).
• The study's results suggest that oral cryotherapy could potentially improve patient outcomes by reducing chemotherapy-related malnutrition and improving quality of life.

Sources:

• The effect of oral cryotherapy on taste alteration, appetite level, risk of malnutrition and quality of life in patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 2025;79:102991.
• European Journal of Oncology Nursing can be contacted at: Elsevier Sci Ltd, 125 London Wall, London, England (www.elsevier.com, www.journals.elsevier.com/european-journal-of-oncology-nursing/).
• Zeynep Pehlivan Koksal, Karadeniz Technical University, Institute of Health Sciences, Dept. of Nursing, Trabzon, Turkey (additional author contact information).