Cachexia

Cachexia or wasting syndrome is loss of weight, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite in someone who is not actively trying to lose weight. The formal definition of cachexia is the loss of body mass that cannot be reversed nutritionally: Even if the affected patient eats more calories, lean body mass will be lost, indicating a primary pathology is in place. Cachexia is seen in patients with cancer, AIDS, chronic obstructive lung disease, multiple sclerosis, congestive heart failure, tuberculosis, familial amyloid polyneuropathy, mercury poisoning (acrodynia) and hormonal deficiency.

Symptoms

• Involuntary (unintentional) weight loss -- Weight loss with cachexia is involuntary, meaning that it occurs without trying. Yet it goes further than unintentional weight loss. Weight loss may occur even though you are getting an adequate amount of calories in your diet, and if calorie intake outweighs output of energy.
• Skeletal muscle wasting -- Muscle wasting is a hallmark of cachexia and occurs along with loss of fat. It can also be fairly insidious. In people who are overweight at the time of their diagnosis, significant loss of muscle mass can occur without an obvious outward appearance of weight loss.
• Anorexia/loss of appetite -- Loss of appetite is another symptom of cachexia, and again, this symptom is somewhat different than ordinary "loss of appetite" symptoms. With cachexia, it is not simply a decreased desire for food, but more of a loss of a desire to eat.
• Lowered quality of life -- Muscle wasting can diminish your ability to walk and participate in activities that would ordinarily be enjoyable.

Home remedies

• Diet -- Contrary to what may seem obvious, replacing and supplementing calories in the diet has not made a big difference in the syndrome of cachexia. That said, it's very important to make sure that people coping with cancer (and similar conditions that cause cachexia) have a healthy diet. One important point to keep in mind is that if someone has not been eating much for a period of time, intake should be increased gradually. If calories are pushed too rapidly, a side effect called "overfeeding syndrome" may occur. When eating is not possible (or is limited) orally, a feeding tube may be recommended.
• Researchers found that a daily high-calorie/high-protein supplement, enriched with vitamins C and E, and about 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, prompted a significantly higher rate of weight gain, increased lean body mass and improved quality of life compared to subjects who received a similar supplement, but without the added vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids.
• EPA : Fish oil has been evaluated for its ability to treat cachexia with some studies (but not all) suggesting it may be helpful. In one study, adding a powder supplement of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), one of the main three omega-3 fatty acids that people get in their diets by eating fish, improved the levels of inflammatory markers that go along with cachexia. Supplements of EPA were also linked with shorter hospital stays and fewer infections and complications.
• Exercise -- It may seem counterinituitive, but increasing activity (if possible) may help. An obvious benefit of exercise is increased appetite, but endurance training may go beyond eating habits to help slow the decline in muscle mass seen with cachexia.
• L-Carnitine
• Testosterone Booster
• Creatine is a compound that attracts water into muscle cells, which in turn stretches the cell membrane and sends a signal to increase the size of the muscle cells. Researchers at the University of Thessaly in Greece found that creatine supplementation shows potential in boosting muscle mass and function in catabolic wasting patients. However, further research is necessary. The findings were reported in the November 2009 issue of "Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care."
• Conjugated Linoleic Acid, or CLA is a healthy omega-6 fatty acid that might provide benefits for those suffering from cancer cachexia, according to a study performed by researchers at the National Institute of Nursing Research. They found that mice with cancer cachexia given CLA preserved their muscle mass and experienced reductions in muscle wasting, according to research reported in the February 2005 issue of "Research in Nursing and Health."
• Whey Protein : Protein is the most important macronutrient responsible for preserving and building muscle mass, especially in catabolic wasting patients. Scientists reported in the November 2009 issue of "Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care" that increasing protein to 1.5 g/kg per day may provide some benefits for those with cachexia. Supplementing with whey protein, a high-quality protein, can make it easier to reach your required amount of protein.
• Medical marijuana

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.