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Vitamin A, C, E, and zinc deficiencies can raise oxidative stress levels, which can harm DNA.
One of the symptoms of an aggressive and developing cancer in youngsters has been shown to be malnutrition.
Malnutrition is a serious issue that can have grave consequences for children’s health. Children are more vulnerable to nutritional depletion than adults because of their higher growth and development requirements and faster metabolic rates. According to the National Library of Medicine, malnutrition is a poor prognostic indicator and is closely associated with late-stage cancer. It also frequently results in the death of children who have cancer.
Malnutrition in children with cancer has been identified as a part of the symptom complex of progressing and aggressive malignancy. It has only lately been acknowledged as a distinct issue, separate from cancer, which needs to be recognised and treated like other side effects, including infection and cytopenias.
Malnutrition can raise a child’s chance of developing cancer in the following ways:
- Damage to DNA and oxidative stress: Vitamin A, C, E, and zinc deficiencies can raise oxidative stress levels, which can harm DNA. The human body can develop cancer as a result of the mutations caused by free radicals, which the body cannot combat. Furthermore, healthy eating encourages DNA repair processes, which helps to stop genetic mutations that could result in the development of tumours.
- Weakened immune system: When it comes to identifying and removing any malignant cell precursors, the immune system plays a critical role. Because their immune systems are weaker, children who are malnourished are more susceptible to infections and have a harder time eliminating precancerous cells. Children from undernourished families may get cancer as a result of chronic infections like HPV and EBV, which weaken the immune system.
- Delays in growth and adjustments to the hormonal balance: The effects of growth hormones and metabolism are also altered by malnutrition, which may leave people more susceptible to various illnesses and cancers. Low-calorie diets can interfere with insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) signaling, which is essential in cell proliferation and differentiation. These pathways may be connected with higher childhood cancer.
- Poor treatment outcomes and a delayed diagnosis: Malnourished children are typically unable to withstand prolonged and intense treatment for cancer. Because malnutrition impairs the body’s ability to recover from intense cancer therapies, it raises mortality and lowers the likelihood of survival.
Regular intake of vitamin- and mineral-rich food is a must to avoid malnutrition in children, along with frequent checkups to detect diseases.
