EAL

Assessment
Are the calorie needs for cancer patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant different than the RDA?
- Conclusion
  
  Two studies (one positive-quality longitudinal study and one positive-quality RCT) suggest that patients receiving HCT for hematologic malignancies require, on average, 35-40 kcal per kg per day to maintain nitrogen balance and body weight during the first month post-transplant. However, energy requirements may be higher during acute GVHD and for patients receiving > 75% of their total daily energy intake via PN. These studies evaluated patients receiving myeloablative allogeneic HCT, and energy needs may be different for patients receiving non-myeloablative and/or autologous HCT.
- Grade: II
  - Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
  - Grade II is Fair;
  - Grade III is Limited/Weak;
  - Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
  - Grade V is Not Assignable.
  - High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
  - Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
  - Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
  - Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
  - Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
- Search Plan and Results: HCT: Calories, Protein, Lipids, Nutritional Intake, EN/PN 2006