Cachexia: a nutritional syndrome?

Cachexia leads to nutritional deficits including anorexia and loss of fat and muscle mass. In persons with precachexia or early cachexia, e.g., old persons with weight loss and COPD, there is strong evidence that nutritional support improves outcomes. Limited evidence suggests this may be true for heart failure and chronic kidney disease. The evidence for nutritional support is refractory cachexia is, not surprisingly, less dramatic. It would appear that early in the cachectic process, nutrition, coupled with exercise, may be an important therapeutic approach.