EFFECTIVENESS OF NEUTROPENIC DIETS IN PREVENTING INFECTION AMONG CANCER PATIENTS: A REVIEW OF CURRENT EVIDENCE

Registration ID: IJNRD_326319

Published ID: IJNRD2606252

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Khushi R Kottur, Anusha M B

Keywords: Neutropenia, Oncology Nutrition, Neutropenic Diet, Food Safety, Febrile Neutropenia, Quality of Life, Gut Microbiome.

Abstract Background: For decades, the neutropenic diet (ND) has served as a cornerstone of supportive oncology care. This paradigm is founded on the traditional premise that restricting raw produce and unpasteurized dairy minimizes the risk of food-borne infections and bacterial translocation. However, as contemporary oncology shifts toward evidence-based clinical practices, the therapeutic utility of these highly restrictive dietary protocols is under intense scrutiny. Objective: This narrative review critically synthesizes contemporary literature to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the neutropenic diet compared to standard food safety protocols. Specifically, it assesses their relative impacts on preventing infection, reducing mortality, and maintaining the nutritional, biological, and psychological well-being of oncology patients. Methods: A narrative analysis was conducted to synthesize findings from recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs), meta-analyses, and scoping reviews. The analysis encompasses both adult and pediatric oncology populations, with an emphasis on landmark syntheses published between 2006 and 2025. Results: High-level evidence consistently demonstrates that the ND does not significantly reduce the incidence of febrile neutropenia, bacteremia, or mortality compared to standard food safety guidelines. This lack of superior efficacy persists even during periods of profound neutropenia, defined as an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of less than 500 cells/μL. Mechanistically, removing dietary fiber leads to a systemic shift toward mucin-degrading gut bacteria. This erodes the protective inner epithelial mucus layer, increasing intestinal permeability and paradoxically facilitating the systemic translocation of opportunistic pathogens. Psychologically, the diet significantly diminishes quality of life (QoL) by inducing food-related anxiety and worsening treatment-induced anorexia. Conclusion: International professional bodies now advocate for the liberalization of oncology diets. The transition from a "sterile plate" model to evidence-based food safety education (clean, separate, cook, chill) is heavily supported by modern data. Retiring the ND in favor of a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich approach supports both the biological barrier integrity and psychological resilience of oncology patients.

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Khushi R Kottur & Anusha M B (June-2026). EFFECTIVENESS OF NEUTROPENIC DIETS IN PREVENTING INFECTION AMONG CANCER PATIENTS: A REVIEW OF CURRENT EVIDENCE. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NOVEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, 11(6), c511-c520. https://ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD2606252.pdf

Volume 11 Issue 6, June-2026

Pages : c511-c520

Paper Reg. ID: IJNRD_326319

Published Paper Id: IJNRD2606252

Research Area: Life Sciences All

Author Type: Indian Author

Country: Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Published Paper PDF: https://ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRD2606252.pdf

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