Michael J Toth, Damien M Callahan, Mark S Miller, Timothy W Tourville, Sarah B Hackett, Marion E Couch, Kim Dittus
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Cancer patients frequently experience weight loss, with negative consequences for functionality and prognosis. The extent to which muscle atrophy contributes to weight loss, however, is not clear, as few studies have directly measured muscle fiber morphology in cancer patients. METHODS: Whole body and regional tissue composition were measured, along with the cross-sectional area (CSA) and fiber type of mechanically-isolated, single muscle fibers, in 19 cancer patients (8 with a history of weight loss, 11 weight-stable) and 15 non-diseased controls...
December 2016: Clinical Nutrition