Low GI Diet in Children and Adolescents With ALL

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy with survival
exceeding 90%. However, treatment-related toxicity remains a clinical challenge during and
after treatment. Evidence-based, nutritional interventions may minimize the development of
nutrition-related toxicities, such as bone morbidities, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity. To
date, no effective interventions are available to prevent nutrition-related morbidities in
children with ALL. Clinical studies evaluating the glycemic indices in other pediatric
conditions have been encouraging. It is plausible that reducing the glycemic indices of diets
during cancer treatment may have a profound clinical effect in this vulnerable pediatric
population. Prior to the design and implementation of randomized, controlled trials,
epidemiological data describing the Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL) and the
association with clinically important outcomes is needed. Additionally, the feasibility of a
dietary intervention must also be explored within the setting of pediatric cancer. This study
aims to determine the feasibility, measured by compliance to a low-GI diet, of a 6-month low
glycemic dietary intervention in children and adolescents undergoing treatment for ALL. The
proposed work will be used for the design and implementation of a multi-center nutritional
intervention aimed at improving dietary intake during treatment and its effect on clinically
important outcomes. Importantly, the information will be used to drive the formation of
evidence-based nutritional guidelines for children with cancer, which will expand into the
emerging field of individualized medicine for patients with cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

- Within 5 days of starting the induction phase of treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic
Leukemia

- Proficient in English or Spanish

Exclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

- Not meeting all of the inclusion criteria