What is neutropenia and leukopenia? Who is affected by this?
Both terms referred to a symptoms of a compromised immune system. Neutropenia refers to an abnormally small number of neutrophils in the blood, which sometimes occurs following specific cancer therapies. Leukopenia, similarly, refers to an abnormally small number of white blood cells following chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Both type of cells are critical players in your immune system and help fight infections. Decreased cells counts may increase your risk for infections following your therapies.
How does neutropenia or leukopenia affect my ability to eat?
Regarding food selection during an immunocompromised state, leading cancer centers provide guidelines for patients and information about food safety practices related to food purchase, storage, and preparation (e.g., University of Pittsburg Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center).
Comprehensive food safety information designed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people with cancer and for transplant recipients is also available online. Patients can be educated to regularly refer to FoodSafety.gov for up-to-date information about food recalls and alerts.
Both terms referred to a symptoms of a compromised immune system. Neutropenia refers to an abnormally small number of neutrophils in the blood, which sometimes occurs following specific cancer therapies. Leukopenia, similarly, refers to an abnormally small number of white blood cells following chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Both type of cells are critical players in your immune system and help fight infections. Decreased cells counts may increase your risk for infections following your therapies.
How does neutropenia or leukopenia affect my ability to eat?
Regarding food selection during an immunocompromised state, leading cancer centers provide guidelines for patients and information about food safety practices related to food purchase, storage, and preparation (e.g., University of Pittsburg Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center).
Comprehensive food safety information designed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for people with cancer and for transplant recipients is also available online. Patients can be educated to regularly refer to FoodSafety.gov for up-to-date information about food recalls and alerts.
Sources
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration: Food Safety for People with Cancer. Washington, DC: USDA and HHS, 2011.
Are there clear benefits of a neutropenic diet versus a regular diet for cancer patients?
The wide range of practices related to neutropenic diets reflects the lack of evidence regarding the efficacy of dietary restrictions in preventing infectious complications in cancer patients. Studies evaluating various approaches to diet restrictions have not shown clear benefit.
Practicing evidence-based medicine is important to us. Below are clinical studies that have evaluated this exact question, and may be helpful to share with your provider team.
Evidence-based Practice
Are there clear benefits of a neutropenic diet versus a regular diet for cancer patients?
The wide range of practices related to neutropenic diets reflects the lack of evidence regarding the efficacy of dietary restrictions in preventing infectious complications in cancer patients. Studies evaluating various approaches to diet restrictions have not shown clear benefit.
Practicing evidence-based medicine is important to us. Below are clinical studies that have evaluated this exact question, and may be helpful to share with your provider team.
Evidence-based Practice
- Sonbol MB, Firwana B, Diab M, et al.: The Effect of a Neutropenic Diet on Infection and Mortality Rates in Cancer Patients: A Meta-Analysis. Nutr Cancer 67 (8): 1230-8, 2015.
- van Dalen EC, Mank A, Leclercq E, et al.: Low bacterial diet versus control diet to prevent infection in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy causing episodes of neutropenia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (9): CD006247, 2012.
- van Tiel F, Harbers MM, Terporten PH, et al.: Normal hospital and low-bacterial diet in patients with cytopenia after intensive chemotherapy for hematological malignancy: a study of safety. Ann Oncol 18 (6): 1080-4, 2007.
- Moody K, Finlay J, Mancuso C, et al.: Feasibility and safety of a pilot randomized trial of infection rate: neutropenic diet versus standard food safety guidelines. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 28 (3): 126-33, 2006.
- Gardner A, Mattiuzzi G, Faderl S, et al.: Randomized comparison of cooked and noncooked diets in patients undergoing remission induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia. J Clin Oncol 26 (35): 5684-8, 2008.
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