<span>NUTRITION STATUS OF THYROID CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING RADIOACTIVE IODINE ABLATION THERAPY</span>

Aims: This study aims to determine the characteristics of patients indicated for I-131 treatment following complete thyroidectomy. The findings will assist Vietnamese nutritionists in developing appropriate guidelines and intervention methods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Hanoi Oncology hospital from April 2021 to December 2022. Body weight, height, arm and calf circumference were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) was assessed. The 24-hour dietary recall was assessed in comparison to patient’s energy and protein daily requirements. Results: The study revealed that 15.3% of patients were overweight or obese, while 9.6% were malnourished based on BMI. Arm and calf circumferences were effective in identifying malnutrition risk, similarly to the PG-SGA classification. Nearly 40.3% of patients experienced weight loss, despite no dietary changes among 91.1% of them. Difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, and fatigue were common symptoms. The dietary intake covered 60,6 ± 24,6% of energy and 48,8 ± 20,6% daily protein requirements. Hospital dietitians should develop strategies to prevent weight loss from pre- to post- operative periods. Conclusion: Thyroid cancer patients showed a low rate of malnutrition (9.6%) but high rate of overweight/obesity (33.1%). Their energy and protein intake are inadequate. Dietary counseling is recommended to ensure iodine restriction, adequate nutrition, and prevent weight gain after I-131 treatment.