Evaluation of functional food awareness amount patients with haematological malignancies

Abstract

Cancer treatment typically encompasses surgical intervention, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies; however, the side effects that develop during treatment may adversely affect patients' general health status and quality of life. In this patient group, in addition to appropriate and adequate nutrition, supplementary nutrition and dietary interventions can enhance patients comfort and contribute positively to health. Studies have indicated that functional foods can be safely utilised in cancer patients because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitoxic, antiallergic, anticarcinogenic, and immunomodulatory effects. Antioxidants, pre-probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, and glutamine were the primary products recommended and used in this patient group. Knowledge and awareness of functional foods are crucial for cancer patients to benefit from these nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness of functional foods in patients with haematologic cancer. A total of 130 volutary patients diagnosed with haematologic cancer who were followed up at the Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine/ Department of Hematology were included. The "Consumers' attitudes scale toward functional foods" was used in the analysis. In our study, the scores of the group that responded positively to the question "should functional foods be purchased" were higher in the benefit and trust sub-dimensions of the scale, and the scores of the group that responded negatively in the necessity sub-dimension were significantly higher. The high scores in the benefit sub-dimension of the group that responded positively to the question "Would you like to be educated about functional foods" showed that the majority of patients believed that the products were beneficial.