University of AlbertaNutritionist Carla Prado is leading a study that aims to determine the precise protein needs of women receiving chemotherapy with support from a prestigious Dorothy Killam Fellowship. It’s an area that remains largely based on estimates rather than direct physiological measurement.
Muscle loss is a common and serious side effect of cancer treatment. It can reduce quality of life, slow recovery, increase treatment complications, and in some cases, impact survival. Protein plays a key role in maintaining muscle, supporting immune function, and helping the body repair itself, yet current dietary recommendations are largely based on broad population estimates.
Prado explains that this approach leaves an important gap in care.
“The body’s needs during chemotherapy may be higher than what current guidelines assume, and if requirements are underestimated, even motivated patients may still fall short.”
Moving beyond general dietary guidelines
To address this, her team is using a mechanistic approach that looks directly at how the body processes protein. Rather than relying on generalized dietary guidelines, the study measures protein metabolism in real time to identify a “break point” where the body’s protein needs are fully met.
Participants undergoing chemotherapy consume controlled amounts of protein while researchers analyze breath and urine samples to track how their bodies use and process it. The goal is to pinpoint a more accurate, individualized range of protein requirements during treatment.
Prado says this method offers a more precise understanding of human physiology compared to traditional guidelines.
“General recommendations are mostly based on studies that were not specific to this population and are often informed by expert opinion rather than direct measurement,” she said. “This is a mechanistic approach that looks inside the body to understand what is actually happening.”
Conducting this type of research in patients undergoing chemotherapy comes with significant challenges. Participants are already managing intensive treatment schedules and multiple medical appointments, making recruitment and retention difficult. The study also requires long and detailed assessment sessions.
“These patients are incredibly generous with their time,” Prado says. “They are often spending hours with us and returning for several visits while also managing treatment and family responsibilities.”
The study also addresses a long-standing gap in nutrition research involving women. Many existing studies in metabolism and nutrition have historically focused on male participants, which may have shaped current recommendations in ways that do not fully reflect female physiology.
“If we look at what drives protein requirements, muscle is a key factor. Men generally have more muscle mass than women, which may influence needs. But we still need to understand this properly,” she said.
Ensuring nutrition integration practices
Beyond the laboratory, Prado’s research program is strongly focused on real-world impact. Her team is already developing educational tools for patients, including a freely available cookbook that has received international recognition and is being translated into multiple languages, including Spanish, Arabic, and French.
“We try to give back to patients through education,” she says. “It is our way of ensuring the science is accessible and useful beyond the research setting.”
She hopes the findings will help dietitians and oncologists better integrate nutrition into cancer care by offering targeted assessments and interventions for muscle loss during treatment.
“This work can help improve how we assess muscle, how we understand nutrition needs, and how we intervene in clinical care,” Prado explained. “It is about giving health-care professionals better tools and patients better support.”
Looking ahead, the research could also pave the way for more personalized nutrition strategies. Prado’s lab is beginning work in precision nutrition, exploring how molecular data and individual differences could help classify patients that respond differently to dietary interventions.
“The next step is understanding how different people respond to diet at a biological level and whether we can tailor recommendations accordingly.”
