Dietitians assess, diagnose and treat dietary-related problems using Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an evidence-based approach that involves the translation of scientific information on nutrition, health and diseases to enable individuals to make suitable food choices. The application of MNT allows individuals to manage disease conditions and promote health. It is also known as treatment based on nutrition to speed up the recovery process.
Medical Nutrition Therapy can only be conducted by accredited dietitians, and applied in a specific process known as the Nutrition Care Process (NCP).
There are 4 main steps in NCP as shown below:
| Steps | Role of Dietitian |
| 1. Nutrition Assessment | Collect all necessary data to find out nutrition-related problems and their causes. |
| 2. Nutrition Diagnosis | Identification and labelling of existing nutrition problem(s) that will be treated by the dietitian. Nutrition diagnoses are different from medical diagnoses. |
| 3. Nutrition Intervention | Develop action plans tailored to the client’s needs to improve and solve the nutrition diagnosis. |
| 4. Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation | Identify which outcomes/indicators to observe and evaluate during the next follow up, so the dietitian could adjust the action plans in subsequent follow ups accordingly. |
The effectiveness of MNT in the treatment of medical conditions such as cancer had been proven in research:
- To prevent malnutrition (especially undernutrition).
- Reduce severity of cancer treatment side effects.
- To enhance tolerance towards cancer treatment.
- To maintain lean body mass (muscle mass).
- To improve quality of life.
- Management of other non-communicable diseases (such as obesity and diabetes) can help to reduce risk of cancer.
In summary, it is suggested to seek professional and individualised advice from dietitians regarding nutrition-based treatments for any of the medical conditions.
References:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (n.d.) Scope and standards of practice. https://www.eatrightpro.org/practice/dietetics-resources/scope-and-standards-of-practice
- National Cancer Institute. (2022, December 9). Nutrition in cancer care (PDQ®) – Patient version. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/appetite-loss/nutrition-pdq
