BACKGROUND: Cancer nowadays is considered one of the biggest health problem all over the world and the digestive and respiratory tumors are the most frequent among them. AIM: To compare nutritional indicators among patients with esophageal, stomach and intestinal neoplasms. METHODS: A comparative study was carried out assessing indicators of nutritional status (anthropometry, biochemistry and diet) of 28 patients with digestive neoplasms. RESULTS: Groups were statistically paired by gender, biochemical tests, food intake and anthropometrics measurements, except for the upper arm circumference (P=0.0471). Weight loss was verified for 46.4% of the studied patients and the tube diet was the most prevalent dietary prescription for the patients, especially among those with esophageal neoplasms. CONCLUSION: Patients with esophageal, stomach and intestinal neoplasms have poor nutritional status and need continuous dietary care during the treatment of their diseases.
Esophageal neoplasms; Stomach neoplasms; Colonic neoplasms; Nutritional status
