The Adverse Impact of Sarcopenia and Visceral Fat Deposition on the Course of Hepatocellular Carcinoma and the Role of Nutritional Interventions

Abstract

There is mounting evidence to support the impact of sarcopenia on the prognosis of a wide range of clinical conditions. This review examines the literature on the effect of body composition measures, including sarcopenia, on outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Available studies support the adverse impact that sarcopenia has on overall survival, response to different treatment modalities, and tumour recurrence. Some studies have identified visceral fat deposition as a negative prognostic sign, and the incorporation of body composition measures into current HCC staging schemes have been shown to improve prognostic accuracy. On the other hand, there is a paucity of studies assessing nutritional interventions in HCC and further trials are needed to inform evidence-based practice.