Insights into food intake, overall diet quality, and stool short chain fatty acids during neoadjuvant concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for rectal cancer; A Pilot Study
Vol. 44 No. 4 (2025), Brief Report
Vol. 44 No. 4 (2025)

Insights into food intake, overall diet quality, and stool short chain fatty acids during neoadjuvant concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for rectal cancer; A Pilot Study

Brief Report
Published 2025-12-11
Velda J. Gonzalez-Mercado
Assistant Professor, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, USA
Jackie Finik
Senior Biostatistician, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, USA
Luis M. Marrero
Student, NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA
Agnes Wong
Project Manager, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, USA
Roberto Foley
Technical Operations Manager, Radiation Oncology, NYU Langone, New York, NY, USA
Bradley E. Aoizerat
Professor, Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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Keywords

diet quality
rectal cancer
stool short chain fatty acids

How to Cite

Gonzalez-Mercado, V. J., Finik, J., Marrero, L. M., Wong, A., Foley, R., & Aoizerat, B. E. (2025). Insights into food intake, overall diet quality, and stool short chain fatty acids during neoadjuvant concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy for rectal cancer; A Pilot Study. Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, 44(4), 233–238. Retrieved from https://prhsj.rcm.upr.edu/index.php/prhsj/article/view/3659
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Abstract

Purpose: To describe food intake and overall diet quality during neoadjuvant concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (nCRT) for rectal cancer. We also explored associations between Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS) and short-chain-fatty acids (SCFA) levels at the end of nCRT in a subset of participants. Methods: Thirty-two participants provided a 24-hr dietary recall while eighteen provided stool samples for SCFA. Results: Reported intakes of eleven healthy food groups (e.g., dark green vegetables, fish) were low (<50% of participants) before treatment, while four unhealthy food groups (e.g., processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages) were high (> 50%) for both before and after treatment. Higher propionate levels were associated with higher PDQS. Conclusion: Participants report lower dietary intake and quality during nCRT treatment. Additional work is warranted to understand if gut metabolites may mediate the impact of low diet quality
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