# Perspective: Radiotherapy and Body Composition: Unmet Needs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how radiotherapy affects muscle loss in cancer patients, especially in low- and middle-income countries where evidence and care are lacking.

## Contribution

The paper identifies unmet needs in nutritional care for radiotherapy patients in low- and middle-income countries.

## Key findings

- Radiotherapy can cause muscle loss, affecting treatment outcomes.
- Low- and middle-income countries lack evidence on this issue despite higher patient vulnerability.
- There is a critical gap in nutritional care for these patients.

## Abstract

Radiotherapy plays a vital role in cancer treatment, yet its effects on patients’ nutritional status can precipitate muscle loss, with significant implications for treatment tolerance and outcomes. Evidence from high-income countries increasingly links radiation-induced muscle loss to adverse clinical outcomes. In contrast, low- and middle-income countries face a stark evidence gap, despite the heightened vulnerability of cancer patients in these settings due to delayed diagnosis, limited access to care, and high rates of co-morbidities. This paper highlights the critical gaps in nutritional care for radiotherapy patients in low- and middle-income countries.