Evaluation of the relationship between serum vitamin D and B12 levels, nutrition status, depression and anxiety status of adult oncology patients receiving chemotherapy treatment

This study aims to determine the relationship before and after chemotherapy between serum vitamin D and B12 levels, nutritional status, depression and anxiety status of adult oncology patients receiving chemotherapy treatment. This study was conducted with 44 patients (Patient Group-PG) who were diagnosed with cancer and applied to the Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University Mengücek Gazi Education and Research Hospital Chemotherapy Unit for treatment and 44 healthy volunteers (Control Group-CG) between April 2019 and December 2019. The questionnaire form was administered by the researcher using face-to-face interview technique in order to determine the general characteristics, health conditions, lifestyle habits, anthropometric measurements and nutritional habits of the individuals. The data were collected with International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The average age of individuals in PG is 52.50±12.21 years and those in CG are 52.84±10.98 years. Most of the individuals in PG are at advanced stage (Stage III, 25%; Stage IV, 50%) and 72.7% of them have metastases. The most common complication is loss of appetite. Serum D and B12 levels in the first cycle in individuals in PG are higher than in the last cycle (p> 0.05). Daily energy and total protein intake is lower in individuals in PG than in CG (p <0.05). It was determined that vitamin C taken with a daily diet reduces the risk of cancer (OR:0.920, 95% CI: 0.899-0.942, p=0.042). PG-SGA, BDI and BAI scores increased in individuals in PG from the first cycle to the last cycle. No correlation was found between depression and anxiety scores and serum vitamin D and B12 levels (p>0.05). A negative correlation (r=-0.311, p=0.040) was determined between BAI scores and body weight after the last cycle in PG. After the last cycle, PG-SGA scale scores were correlated with BDI (r=0.372, p=0.013) and BAI scores (r=0.423, p=0.004). As a result, it was determined that the negative effect of chemotherapy treatment on physical activity and eating habits may lay the groundwork for the development of depression and anxiety by affecting vitamin D and B12 levels. Individuals receiving chemotherapy treatment should be monitored in terms of nutrition, they should be ensured to consume a healthy and balanced diet that is suitable for their needs. Keywords: Anxiety, vitamin B12, nutrition, vitamin D, depression, cancer