Caquexia e Sarcopenia em pacientes oncológicos: uso de suplementos nutricionais

Cachexia and sarcopenia are frequent conditions in cancer patients, associated with loss of muscle mass, functional impairment, poorer tolerance to treatments, and reduced quality of life. In this context, nutritional care plays a fundamental role in the prevention and management of these alterations, particularly through the optimization of dietary intake and the use of nutritional supplements. This study aimed to analyze the use of nutritional supplements as a management strategy for cachexia and sarcopenia in cancer patients, identifying their benefits and limitations, and to provide a basis for developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to guide nutritional management for both hospitalized and outpatient cancer patients. This is a literature review conducted using the Google Scholar, SciELO, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and PubMed databases, covering articles published between 2017 and 2025 in Portuguese and English. Supplementation strategies involving omega-3, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), protein modules, and vitamin D were analyzed. The results indicated that protein supplementation can help meet nutritional requirements and maintain muscle mass, especially when dietary intake is insufficient. Omega-3 showed potential for improving appetite, stabilizing weight, and modulating the inflammatory response; however, it is not recommended as a standalone treatment for cachexia and sarcopenia. Regarding HMB, the available evidence remains limited. As for vitamin D, supplementation should prioritize the correction of deficiencies confirmed through laboratory testing. It is concluded that nutritional therapy must be individualized, taking into account the clinical conditions, nutritional status, and specific needs of each patient; further studies are required to strengthen the evidence regarding the efficacy of nutritional.