Nutritional support is of great importance in managing children and young people with cancer. It may help to reverse malnutrition seen at diagnosis, prevent malnutrition associated with the cancer treatment and promote weight gain and growth. Nutritional support may be provided by one of two methods: nutritional liquids delivered through a central or peripheral vein which bypass the gut (parenteral nutrition); or nutritional liquids or solids that pass through any part of the gut, regardless of method of delivery (e.g. orally or via a tube) (enteral nutrition).
We found some evidence from one small trial to suggest that parenteral nutrition may result in an increase in weight, serum albumin levels, and calorie and protein intake when compared to enteral nutrition (usual food intake). However, the evidence for other methods of delivery of nutritional support remains unclear. No studies were identified that compared the nutritional content in either the PN or EN groups of studies. The trials were all of low quality and very different in terms of outcome measures used. In future much larger, rigorously conducted trials with better defined outcome measures are needed in order to address this important question.