How to Find the Best Protein Powder for Cancer Patients

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best protein powder for cancer patients.

Discover how to safely supplement your protein intake while battling cancer.

Last Updated
Jan 15, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Kayla Kamen, MS, RD

Kayla Kamen is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Fossett, PA-C

Jennifer Fossett is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Protein Powder for Cancer Patients

Is Protein Powder Good for Cancer Patients?

Studies have reported that the prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients may be as high as 85% (NCI, 2024).

And when cancer-related malnutrition goes untreated, the consequences can be serious.

Malnutrition is associated with treatment toxicity, complications, reduced physical functioning, and decreased survival.

Moreover, it is protein deficiency that is the strongest contributor to side effects and increased mortality, which makes sense because your body simply cannot heal or fight off infections without protein (Nutr Cancer, 2015).

It follows that increasing protein intake has beneficial effects for cancer treatment tolerance and efficacy (J Clin Med, 2019).

Research also shows that increasing protein intake increases muscle mass and strength in cancer patients, both of which are associated with increased survival and better outcomes (Nutrients, 2020).

This all makes sense because cancer patients have higher than normal protein needs.

Whereas healthy adults need, on average, 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, cancer patients might need almost twice that much.

The recommended daily protein intake for cancer patients is 1.2-1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight (J Clin Med, 2019).

Keep in mind that cancer patients should aim to get as much protein as they can from foods like eggs, fish, and meat.

Getting enough protein this way can be challenging (if not impossible) for some cancer patients, however, which is where protein powder can help.

Protein powder can be incorporated into smoothies, oatmeal, and other recipes for an easy protein boost.

Is Protein Powder Safe to Use During Cancer Treatment?

Protein powder is perfectly safe to use while undergoing treatment, but not all protein powders are created equal.

Keep reading to learn how to safely supplement your protein intake while battling cancer.

What Is the Best Protein Powder for Cancer Patients?

As long as you are eating a balanced diet, any type of protein can help you meet your nutritional needs.

Ingredients do matter, however.

Many protein powders are made from ingredients know to cause painful side effects and long term health problems.

Among these ingredients are food additives, dairy-based proteins, and protein concentrates and isolates.

🚫 Avoid Food Additives

Regularly eating emulsifiers, thickeners, and other additives can not only upset your stomach, but also alter the composition of your gut microbiome (the collection of microorganisms living in your gut) (North Clin Istanb, 2019).

This can lead to gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, which can make chemotherapy drugs less effective (Microorganisms, 2022; Gut, 2020).

An imbalanced gut microbiome has also been linked to the development of various cancers (Cancer Causes Control, 2014).

Although more research is needed, it is thought that gut dysbiosis causes the production of carcinogenic metabolites, activates pro-inflammatory pathways known to promote tumorigenesis, and impairs the gut barrier, leading to chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, further contributing to carcinogenesis.

⚠️ Here is a list of the most common food additives in protein supplements:

• acacia fiber
• acacia gum
• acesulfame potassium
• artificial flavors
• ascorbic acid
• aspartame
• calcium carbonate
• carrageenan
• cellulose gum
• dextrin
• dicalcium phosphate
• dipotassium phosphate
• erythritol
• gellan gum
• guar gum
• gum arabic
• inulin
• locust bean gum
• maltitol
• maltodextrin
• mono- and diglycerides
• ‘natural’ flavors
• rice bran extract
• rice dextrin
• rice hulls
• rosemary extract
• silica
• silicon dioxide
• sodium alginate
• soluble corn fiber
• sorbitol
• soy lecithin
• sucralose
• sunflower lecithin
• tocopherols
• tricalcium phosphate
• xanthan gum
• xylitol
• zinc oxide

As a rule of thumb, if you cannot find it in nature or make it at home, it is probably a food additive.

🚫 Avoid Dairy-Based Proteins

Dairy-based proteins like whey and casein, although not an issue for everyone, can cause digestive issues.

This is usually because they contain lactose, a sugar many individuals with sensitive stomachs cannot fully digest.

But you might be sensitive to dairy-based proteins even if you are not lactose intolerant.

This is particularly true for casein protein, which forms a gel-like substance in your stomach that slows down digestion.

🚫 Avoid Protein Concentrates and Isolates

You might also want to avoid ultra-processed protein concentrates and isolates.

Most protein supplements are made from one or both of these ultra-processed protein sources, which have been mechanically and/or chemically stripped of everything but the protein.

This includes the enzymes, fiber, and other natural digestive aids that help your gut break them down.

You therefore do not digest them in the same way that you do whole foods, which could affect your gut health.

Studies show that regularly eating protein concentrates and isolates might disrupt your gut microbiome and cause the formation of toxic byproducts in your gut (Nutrients, 2018; Mol Nutr Food Res, 2024).

You should thus look for protein supplements made from whole food protein sources like egg whites and almonds, which are easier to digest and absorb.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

How Should Cancer Patients Use Protein Powder?

Here are a few important details to keep in mind when choosing protein powder for cancer patients:

• Additional calorie requirements: When undergoing cancer treatment, both protein and energy needs increase. Choosing a protein powder high in both protein and calories is thus recommended. Keep in mind that you can always add ingredients to a protein shake to increase the protein and calorie content. Just 2 tablespoons of nut butter, for example, will add 10 grams of protein and 200 calories.
• Texture: Texture also plays an important role when choosing protein powder for cancer patients. Many cancer patients have difficulty swallowing, which means avoiding protein powders with gritty or chalky textures should be a priority.
• Taste: Many cancer patients experience nausea and a loss of appetite. It is therefore important to find a protein powder that tastes good. This may require some trial and error, so look for companies that offer Samples.

Before adding protein powder to your diet, it is recommended to consult with your healthcare team to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for you and your treatment plan.

Once you get the green light, follow the tips below for the best results:

• Start slow: Start with smaller servings of protein powder to test your tolerance and gradually increase the serving-size over time.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration, especially if you are experiencing nausea or vomiting as a side effect of treatment.
• Monitor your symptoms: Track your changes in your digestion or bowel habits when introducing protein powder to your diet, and discuss them with your healthcare team if they persist or worsen.
• Incorporate protein powder into meals: Incorporate protein powder into recipes such as oatmeal and yogurt because protein shakes can get old.
• Listen to your body: Pay attention to how your body responds to protein powder and adjust your intake or food pairings accordingly based on your individual tolerance and preferences.

By following the tips above, you can ensure that you will not only safely supplement your protein intake, but also get the most out of your protein supplement.

Sources

1. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Nutrition in Cancer Care (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. 2024.
2. Nutrition and Cancer (Nutr Cancer). Low Recent Protein Intake Predicts Cancer-Related Fatigue and Increased Mortality in Patients with Advanced Tumor Disease Undergoing Chemotherapy. 2015.
3. Journal of Clinical Medicine (J Clin Med). Nutrition in Cancer Patients. 2019.
4. Nutrients (Nutrients). The Impact of Protein Supplementation Targeted at Improving Muscle Mass on Strength in Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review. 2020.
5. Northern Clinics of Istanbul (North Clin Istanb). Food additives and microbiota. 2019.
6. Microorganisms (Microorganisms). Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis: Triggers, Consequences, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options. 2022.
7. Gut (Gut). The gut microbiome and its role in the development of cancer therapies. 2020.
8. Cancer Causes & Control (Cancer Causes Control). The gut microbiome and colorectal cancer: a review of bacterial pathogenesis. 2014.
9. Nutrients (Nutrients). Effect of a Protein Supplement on the Gut Microbiota of Endurance Athletes: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study. 2018.
10. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Mol Nutr Food Res). In Vitro Fermentation of Animal and Plant Protein Isolates by the Human Gut Microbiota Under High and Low Carbohydrate Conditions. 2024.

Editorial Guidelines

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This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.