THE EVALUATION OF VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENTATION ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PATIENTS WITH ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY

Background: Leukemia is the seventh common cancer in Iran, and AML is considered as the most common type. Malnutrition is common among patients with cancer. Vitamin C deficiency has a high prevalence among patients with cancer, which may influence a patient’s survival chance. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin C supplementation on nutritional status and serum albumin in patients with acute myeloid leukemia referred to Shariati Hospital in Tehran. Methods: This study was recruited by a randomized selection of 50 patients with AML, including entrance criteria, into 2 groups including the supplement group and control group. The duration of the study was 1 month. Nutritional status was assessed by the PG-SGA questionnaire, body weight, serum albumin status, and 3 days of food record before and at the end of the study. Results: The results of this study have shown that the nutritional status and body weight in the supplementation group have improved significantly (p-value=0.001 and 0.004, respectively). The serum albumin status has increased significantly in the supplementation group compared to the control group. (P-value=0.002). Conclusion: The results of this study have suggested that vitamin C supplementation in patients with AML under chemotherapy has improved nutritional status and reduced malnutrition due to chemotherapy side effects.