Effect of Dietary Interventions on Body Composition and Quality of Life in Stomach Cancer Survivors after Gastrectomy: A Systematic Review

Nutritional interventions are critical in supporting recovery and maintaining nutritional status in gastric cancer patients post-gastrectomy. This systematic review evaluates the impact of various dietary interventions on outcomes such as body composition, body weight loss (BWL) and quality of life (QoL) of patients with gastrectomy. A comprehensive search was conducted across six electronic databases, restricted to studies published in English after January 2000 that involved human subjects. Data were synthesised descriptively due to the heterogeneity of study designs and interventions. Of the 2103 studies identified, 13 met the inclusion criteria. These studies included a range of interventions such as Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS), nutritional counselling, and dietary education. The results demonstrated that ONS and nutritional counselling significantly reduced BWL, particularly in total gastrectomy patients. Evidence for improvements in QoL was more limited, with only one study reporting a statistically significant effect, and considerable heterogeneity in QoL tools and follow-up durations. Simplified dietary education, without follow-up, showed limited effectiveness. Nutritional counselling and ONS significantly improve postoperative outcomes in gastric cancer patients. Personalised, continuous interventions reduce BWL, preserve skeletal muscle, and enhance QoL. Integrating dietitians into care, especially in low-resource settings, is vital. Standardised assessments and stratified research by gastrectomy type are essential for effective, tailored interventions.