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An Examination of Strategies to Improve Access to Medical Nutrition Therapy among Cancer Patients in the United States: A Narrative Review and a Call to Action #MMPMID41351737
Gloss B; Bhurosy T
Curr Nutr Rep 2025[Dec]; 14 (1): 124 PMID41351737show ga
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Our aims were to review literature describing the role and benefits of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) in cancer care, highlight barriers to the integration of MNT into standard clinical practice, and investigate strategies to improve access to MNT in the United States (US). RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with cancer benefit from receiving MNT, including individualized nutrition counseling, oral nutrition supplements, enteral nutrition, and parenteral nutrition. Recent evidence highlighted the efficacy of MNT in reducing treatment-related toxicity, risk of sarcopenia, gastrointestinal complications, and improving quality of life and overall prognosis. While MNT has been found to be efficacious, its implementation in cancer care is suboptimal due to lack of Medicare coverage for MNT, inadequate nutrition staff, lack of malnutrition screening practices, and low awareness and prioritization of nutrition support among medical professionals. Access to MNT remains limited due to challenges at the patient, healthcare provider, cancer center, community, and policy levels even though MNT is associated with improved outcomes among patients with cancer. Addressing these challenges will require a multi-layered strategy, including educating oncologists and other healthcare providers about nutrition, increasing the number of oncology dietitians, and advocating for legislative changes that pass the MNT Act into action.
Curr+Nutr+Rep 2025 ; 14 (1): 124
