The Impact of Preoperative and Postoperative Nutritional Interventions on Treatment Outcomes and Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients - A Comprehensive Review

Sep 22, 2026

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with substantial morbidity and mortality. Nutritional status is a key determinant of prognosis and survival, shaping both treatment efficacy and patients’ quality of life (QoL). This comprehensive literature review evaluates how preoperative and postoperative nutritional support influences clinical outcomes, including intervention effectiveness, QoL changes, and inflammatory response modulation. Evidence indicates tailored strategies improve outcomes, enhance QoL, reduce complications, support compliance, and offer cost-effective care, making nutritional integration essential in CRC management.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time43 min

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medicina Review The Impact of Preoperative and Postoperative Nutritional Interventions on Treatment Outcomes and Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients—A Comprehensive Review Barbara Piekarska, Mateusz Prusisz, Marcin Włodarczyk *, Jakub Włodarczyk, Mateusz Porc, Inez Bili ´nska, Kasper Mary ´nczak and Łukasz Dziki Citation: Piekarska, B.; Prusisz, M.; Włodarczyk, M.; Włodarczyk, J.; Porc, M.; Bili ´nska, I.; Mary ´nczak, K.; Dziki,Ł . The Impact of Preoperative and Postoperative Nutritional Interventions on Treatment Outcomesand Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients—A Comprehensive Review. Medicina 2024, 60, 1587 . [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)medicina60101587 Academic Editors: Antonio M Scanu and Maria Rosaria De Miglio Received: 31 August 2024 Revised: 16 September 2024 Accepted: 19 September 2024 Published: 27 September 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Published by MDPI on behalf of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://creativecommons.org/](https://creativecommons.org/)[ ](https://creativecommons.org/)[licenses/by/4.0/](licenses/by/4.0/)) . Department of General and Oncological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, 90-213 Lodz, Poland; [barbara.piekarska@onet.pl](barbara.piekarska@onet.pl) (B.P.); [m.j.f.prusisz@gmail.com](m.j.f.prusisz@gmail.com) (M.P.); [007wlodarczyk@gmail.com](007wlodarczyk@gmail.com) (J.W.); [mateusz.porc@gmail.com](mateusz.porc@gmail.com) (M.P.); [inez.bilinska@gmail.com](inez.bilinska@gmail.com) (I.B.); [kmarynczak@gmail.com](kmarynczak@gmail.com) (K.M.); [lukasz.dziki@umed.lodz.pl](lukasz.dziki@umed.lodz.pl) (Ł.D.) * [Correspondence: marcin.wlodarczyk@umed.lodz.pl](Correspondence: marcin.wlodarczyk@umed.lodz.pl) Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Nutritional status has emerged as a significant factor influencing the prognosis and survival of CRC patients. This comprehensive literature review examines the role of nutritional support in improving treatment outcomes, including the efficacy of interventions, patient quality of life (QoL), and the modulation of inflammatory responses. The findings suggest that tailored nutritional interventions improve clinical outcomes, enhance QoL, and reduce treatment-related complications, particularly by attenuating inflammation. Furthermore, the review highlights the cost-effectiveness of nutritional strategies and identifies key methods to enhance patient compliance with dietary recommendations. In conclusion, integrating nutritional support into CRC treatment plans is crucial for optimizing clinical management and improving patient well-being. Keywords: colorectal cancer; nutritional interventions; postoperative complications; quality of life 1. Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide, with significant morbidity and mortality rates [1] . The prognosis and survival rates for CRC patients are influenced by various factors, including the stage at diagnosis, treatment modalities, and patient-related factors such as age, comorbidities, and nutritional status. Among these, nutritional status has emerged as a critical determinant of treatment outcomes, influencing both the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and the overall quality of life (QoL) of patients. Nutritional interventions before and after surgery, as well as during other treatment modalities like chemotherapy, play a pivotal role in enhancing the body’s resilience to the stress of cancer treatments, supporting immune function, and promoting recovery. Malnutrition, which is common among CRC patients due to the disease itself and its treatments, can lead to

FAQs

Why is nutritional status considered important in colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes?

Nutritional status influences prognosis and survival by affecting treatment efficacy, recovery resilience, immune function, and overall quality of life (QoL). Malnutrition is linked to worse outcomes such as higher postoperative complications and reduced survival.

What does the review evaluate about nutritional interventions?

It examines the impact of preoperative and postoperative nutritional support on treatment outcomes and QoL in CRC patients, including intervention efficacy, quality of life measures, and effects on inflammatory responses.

What benefits are reported for tailored nutritional interventions?

Tailored interventions are associated with improved clinical outcomes, better QoL, fewer treatment-related complications, attenuation of inflammation, and greater cost-effectiveness while improving patient compliance with dietary recommendations.

Sep 22, 2026

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