Paula Cristina Ravasco

Invited Assistant Professor

Generic Bio

Participation in Católica Medical School

  • Coordinator of the curricular units Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle, Digestion and Defence I and Digestion and Defence II 
  • Team Leader and Principal Investigator at the UCP Interdisciplinary Health Research Centre & CatolicaMed Platform, CAtólicaREsearch - CARE, UCP, Pure 5.20.2 
  • Member of the Scientific Council of the Católica Medical School 
  • Librarian Teacher
  • Director of the International Postgraduate Programme "Nutrition and Metabolism in Oncology" in collaboration with the Institute of Health Sciences of UCP
     

Field of Work

Clinical Nutrition | Metabolism | Oncology | Immunohemotherapy | Clinical Medicine | Clinical Research  

 

Professional Activity

  • Católica Medical School
  • Egas Moniz University Institute 
  • TROFA Hospital, Lisbon 
     

Training

  • Basic Studies in Medicine, Bachelor Medical Degree 
  • Research Internship Grant Holder at the Human Nutrition Research Centre, Tufts University - Boston, Massachusetts USA  
  • Intensive Care Internship at Howard County General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA 
  • Integrated Masters in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon 
  • Degree in Nutrition and Food Engineering 
  • Degree in Nutritional Sciences
  • PhD in Health Sciences on the subject: "Cancer: Metabolic Dysfunction, Nutrition and Quality of Life", by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, with the final classification of Approved unanimously with Distinction and Honour   
  • Integration in the medical staff of Doctors of the World in a Voluntary Mission in Nampula, Mozambique 


Professional Career Summary

  • Internship in the Common Year at the Santa Maria University Hospital - North Lisbon Hospital Center, EPE. 
  • Internship in the Specific Formation of Immunohemotherapy in Santa Maria University Hospital - Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Norte, EPE.
  • Crew member of a medical emergency vehicle (INEM) 
  • Monitor, Assistant and Assistant Professor at Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon  
  • Assistant Professor in collaboration with the ICS-UCP, Lisbon 
  • Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Portugal (UCP) and Egas Moniz University Institute 
  • Member of the Scientific Council Scientific Conferences and Congresses and pre- and post-graduate courses in nutrition, oncology and medicine 
  • Senior Researcher and Team Leader of FCT - MCTES 
  • Full Researcher at the UCP Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Health 
  • Senior Researcher at the Egas Moniz Interdisciplinary Research Centre (CiiEM), Egas Moniz University Institute (IUEM) 
  • Member of the ESPEN Faculty and the ESPEN Guidelines Committee (2016-) | Associate Editor Clinical Nutrition - Journal - Elsevier (2018-)  
  • Author or co-author of more than 70 original scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals  

 

Languages

Portuguese | English | Spanish | French 

 

 

Paper

Nutritional care in older adults: are we doing everything? An expert opinion review

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Elisabet Sanchez-Garcia). 2024. Current Medical Research and Opinion
Paper

The impact of pre-, pro- and synbiotics supplementation in colorectal cancer treatment

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Mariana Melo Moreira). 2024. Frontiers in Oncology
Paper

The science of micronutrients in clinical practice – Report on the ESPEN symposium

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Mette M. Berger). 2024. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) for the assessment of body composition in oncology

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Mariana Garcia Branco). 2023. Nutrients
Other

Corrigendum

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with David da Silva Dias). 2023. Frontiers in Nutrition
Paper

Oncology-led early identification of nutritional risk

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Maurizio Muscaritoli). 2023. Cancers
Paper

Assessment of nutritional status of oncology patients at hospital admission

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Carolina Trabulo). 2022. Frontiers in Nutrition
Other

Bioelectrical impedance analysis for the assessment of body composition in oncology

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with M. G. Branco). 2022. 44th ESPEN Congress on Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism, 3/09/22
Other

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for the Assessment of Body Composition in Oncology: a Scoping Review

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Branco, M. G.). 2022. ESPEN Congress on Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism
Paper

GLIM in diagnosing malnutrition and predicting outcome in ambulatory patients with head and neck cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Helena Kristiina Orell). 2022. Frontiers in Nutrition
Paper

Impact of body composition on prognosis and dose-limiting toxicities on metastatic colorectal cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with David da Silva Dias). 2022. Frontiers in Nutrition
Other

Making cachexia reversible

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with I. Tavares). 2022. 44th ESPEN Congress on Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism, 3/09/22
Other

N-3 fatty acids supplementation and chemotherapy-induced toxicity

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with C. Mateus). 2022. 44th ESPEN Congress on Clinical Nutrition & Metabolism, 3/09/22
Paper

Protein intake and muscle mass maintenance in patients with cancer types with high prevalence of sarcopenia

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Carolina Capitão). 2022. Supportive Care in Cancer
Paper

The impact of nutrition on the lives of patients with digestive cancers: a position paper

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marianna Vitaloni). 2022. Supportive Care in Cancer
Paper

The importance of protein sources to support muscle anabolism in cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Katherine L. Ford). 2022. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Cancer cachexia in adult patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with ESMO Guidelines Committee). 2021. ESMO Open
Paper

ESPEN practical guideline

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Maurizio Muscaritoli). 2021. Clinical Nutrition
Other

Head and neck in squamous cell carcinomas concurrent chemoradiotherapy

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with M. João de Sousa). 2021. Oral Oncology
Other

Impact of systemic inflammation and sarcopenia on prognosis of metastatic colorectal cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with David da Silva Dias). 2021. Journal of Clinical Oncology
Paper

Managing severe dysgeusia and dysosmia in lung cancer patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ana Sofia Spencer). 2021. Frontiers in Oncology
Paper

Body composition changes in patients with head and neck cancer under active treatment

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Bárbara Ferrão). 2020. Supportive Care in Cancer
Paper

Nutrition information in oncology — extending the electronic patient-record data set

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Priscila A. Maranhão). 2020. Journal of Medical Systems
Paper

Body composition evaluation in head and neck cancer patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Inês Almada-Correia). 2019. Frontiers in Oncology
Other

Body composition evaluation in head and neck cancer patients: a review

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Correia, Inês). 2019. 1st Nacional Meeting of Young Oncology Researchers 2019
Paper

Dairy products

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Alexandra Vasconcelos). 2019. Frontiers in Nutrition
Paper

Nutrition in Cancer Patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Paula Ravasco). 2019. Journal of Clinical Medicine
Paper

Nutritional counseling for head and neck cancer patients undergoing (chemo) radiotherapy — a prospective randomized trial

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Helena Orell). 2019. Frontiers in Nutrition
Paper

Should omega-3 fatty acids be used for adjuvant treatment of cancer cachexia?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Daryna Sergiyivna Lavriv). 2018. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN
Paper

The effect of flaxseed in breast cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ana Calado). 2018. Frontiers in Nutrition
Paper

Cachexia at diagnosis is associated with poor survival in head and neck cancer patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Orell-Kotikangas, H.). 2017. Acta Oto-Laryngologica
Paper

ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Arends, J.). 2017. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

ESPEN guidelines on nutritional support for polymorbid internal medicine patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Gomes, F.). 2017. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Eicosapentaenoic acid in cancer improves body composition and modulates metabolism

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Pappalardo, G.). 2015. Nutrition
Paper

NRS-2002 for pre-treatment nutritional risk screening and nutritional status assessment in head and neck cancer patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Orell-Kotikangas, H.). 2015. Supportive Care in Cancer
Book

Nutrition in Cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2015. Nestle Nutrition Institute Workshop Series
Paper

Nutritional approaches in cancer: Relevance of individualized counseling and supplementation

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2015. Nutrition
Paper

Weight changes in Portuguese patients with depression: Which factors are involved?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Correia, J.). 2014. Nutrition Journal
Paper

Excessive adiposity and sedentary lifestyles are prevalent in cancer patients; a pilot study | La adiposidad excesiva y los estilos de vida sedentarios son prevalentes en los pacientes oncológicos; un estudio piloto

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Almeida, A.I.). 2013. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

Length of stay in surgical patients: Nutritional predictive parameters revisited

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Almeida, A.I.). 2013. British Journal of Nutrition
Paper

Reply to AG Longhi

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2013. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Students of dietetics & nutrition; a high risk group for eating disorders? | Estudiantes de dietética y nutricion; ¿un grupo con riesgo elevado para trastornos de la alimentación?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Mealha, V.). 2013. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

The central role of nutritional therapy in cancer: The input of an experts committee of Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2013. Chinese Clinical Oncology
Paper

Differing trends in the association between obesity and self-reported health in Portugal and Switzerland. Data from national health surveys 1992-2007

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marques-Vidal, P.). 2012. BMC Public Health
Paper

Individualized nutrition intervention is of major benefit to colorectal cancer patients: Long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of nutritional therapy

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2012. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Paper

International research program between medical schools: The relevance of clinical research training in nutrition

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Stambolliu, E.). 2012. Nutritional Therapy and Metabolism
Paper

Nutritional risk and status of surgical patients; the relevance of nutrition training of medical students | Riesgo y estado nutricionales en pacientes quirúrgicos; la relevancia del entrenamiento nutricional en estudiantes de medicina

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ferreira, C.). 2012. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

Nutritional risk screening in surgery: Valid, feasible, easy!

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Almeida, A.I.). 2012. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Undernutrition and nutritional supplements in Oncology: What do health professionals and caregivers know? - A pilot survey

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ferreira, C.). 2012. e-SPEN Journal
Paper

Validation of the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) in cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Boléo-Tomé, C.). 2012. British Journal of Nutrition
Paper

What is the relevance of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy on the survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Pena, M.J.). 2012. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Paper

Definition and classification of cancer cachexia: An international consensus

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Fearon, K.). 2011. The Lancet Oncology
Paper

Food for health: Primary-care prevention and public health relevance of the medical role | Alimentação para a saúde: A relevância da intervenção dos médicos

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2011. Acta Medica Portuguesa
Paper

Nutritional support in head and neck cancer: How and why?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2011. Anti-Cancer Drugs
Paper

Research training in nutrition: Relevance for medical clinical pratice | Estágio De Investigação Em Nutrição: Relevância Para a Prática Clínica Em Medicina

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Coronha, A.L.). 2011. Acta Medica Portuguesa
Paper

Teaching nutrition integration: Must screening in cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Boléo-Tomé, C.). 2011. Oncologist
Paper

Ten-year trends in overweight and obesity in the adult Portuguese population, 1995 to 2005

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marques-Vidal, P.). 2011. BMC Public Health
Paper

The relevance of body composition in cancer patients: What is the evidence? | A importância da composição corporal no doente oncológico: Qual a evidência?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Coronha, A.L.). 2011. Acta Medica Portuguesa
Paper

Underdiagnosed and undertreated: Obesity in the Portuguese population

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marques-Vidal, P.). 2011. Archives of Internal Medicine
Paper

What is the nutrition and lifestyle profile in oncology patient? Cross-sectional study | Qual o perfil nutricional e de estilos de vida do doente oncológico? Estudo transversal

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Rolão, A.). 2011. Acta Medica Portuguesa
Paper

What is the relevance of nutrition in oncology? | Qual a relevância da nutrição em oncologia?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with de Carvalho, G.). 2011. Acta Medica Portuguesa
Paper

Body fat and poor diet in breast cancer women

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Amaral, P.). 2010. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

Colorectal cancer: Can nutrients modulate NF-κB and apoptosis?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2010. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Increased body fat is independently and negatively related with cardiorespiratory fitness levels in children and adolescents with normal weight

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marques-Vidal, P.). 2010. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
Paper

International exchange program between medical schools: the relevance of a clinical research training in nutrition

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ferencova, J.). 2010. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

Methods of valuation of the nutritional condition | Métodos de valoración del estado nutricional

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2010. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

Nutritional status and eating pattern in prostate cancer patients

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Mehdad, A.). 2010. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

The diversity of nutritional status in cancer: New insights

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Chaves, M.R.). 2010. Oncologist
Paper

The TCN2 776C&gt;G polymorphism correlates with vitamin B<inf>12</inf>cellular delivery in healthy adult populations

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Castro, R.). 2010. Clinical Biochemistry
Paper

A longitudinal study of hospital undernutrition in the elderly: Comparison of four validated methods

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Cansado, P.). 2009. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging
Paper

Body image, weight concerns and related practices by Portuguese adolescents

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marcelino, G.). 2009. Nutritional Therapy and Metabolism
Paper

Cancer and nutrition: Key determinants of quality of life

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2009. European Journal of Cancer
Paper

Iron homeostasis and H63D mutations in alcoholics with and without liver disease

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Machado, M.V.). 2009. World Journal of Gastroenterology
Paper

Weight concerns and weight reduction practices of Portuguese adolescents

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marcelino, G.). 2009. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

Blood oxidative stress markers in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and how it correlates with diet

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Machado, M.V.). 2008. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
Paper

Body fat levels in children and adolescents: Effects on the prevalence of obesity

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marques-Vidal, P.). 2008. e-SPEN
Paper

Cancer wasting and quality of life react to early individualized nutritional counselling!

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2007. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Colorectal cancer: Intrinsic characteristics modulate cancer energy expenditure and the risk of cachexia

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2007. Cancer Investigation
Paper

How relevant are cytokines in colorectal cancer wasting?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2007. Cancer Journal
Paper

NF-κB and apoptosis in colorectal tumourigenesis

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Aranha, M.M.). 2007. European Journal of Clinical Investigation
Paper

Does nutrition play a role in the quality of life of patients under chronic haemodialysis?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Raimundo, P.). 2006. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

Foodstuffs and colorectal cancer risk: A review

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marques-Vidal, P.). 2006. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Patient-centered outcomes in cancer: Nutrition makes a real difference!

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2006. Current Nutrition and Food Science
Paper

Quality of life in gastrointestinal cancer: What is the impact of nutrition? | Qualidade de vida em doentes com cancro gastrintestinal: Qual o impacto da nutrição?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2006. Acta Medica Portuguesa
Paper

Trends of food intake in Portugal, 1987-1999: Results from the National Health Surveys

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Marques-Vidal, P.). 2006. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Aspects of taste and compliance in patients with cancer

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2005. European Journal of Oncology Nursing
Paper

Dietary counseling improves patient outcomes: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial in colorectal cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2005. Journal of Clinical Oncology
Paper

Impact of nutrition on outcome: A prospective randomized controlled trial in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2005. Head and Neck
Paper

Nutritional risks and colorectal cancer in a Portuguese population

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2005. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

The effect of locoregional recurrence on survival and distant metastasis after conservative treatment for invasive breast carcinoma

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Monteiro Grillo, I.). 2005. Clinical Oncology
Paper

5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C→T and 1298A→C mutations are associated with DNA hypomethylation

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Castro, R.). 2004. Journal of Medical Genetics
Paper

Cancer: Disease and nutrition are key determinants of patients' quality of life

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2004. Supportive Care in Cancer
Paper

Nutritional risk and status assessment in surgical patients: A challenge amidst plenty

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Mourão, F.). 2004. Nutricion Hospitalaria
Paper

Role of a nutrition support team in reducing the inappropriate use of parenteral nutrition (multiple letters) [2]

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Piquet, M.-A.). 2004. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Survey on the current practice of nutritional therapy in Portugal

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2004. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C → T and 1298A → C mutations are genetic determinants of elevated homocysteine

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Castro, R.). 2003. QJM - Monthly Journal of the Association of Physicians
Paper

Does nutrition influence quality of life in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy?

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2003. Radiotherapy and Oncology
Paper

Increased homocysteine and S-adenosylhomocysteine concentrations and DNA hypomethylation in vascular disease

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Castro, R.). 2003. Clinical Chemistry
Paper

Nutritional deterioration in cancer: The role of disease and diet

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2003. Clinical Oncology
Paper

The impact of fluid therapy on nutrient delivery: A prospective evaluation of practice in respiratory intensive care

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2003. Clinical Nutrition
Paper

Tube Feeding in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Patients: A Prospective Clinical Audit

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2003. Nutrition in Clinical Practice
Paper

Specific changes in n-6 fatty acid metabolism in patients with chronic intestinal failure

Paula Cristina Ravasco (with Ravasco, P.). 2002. Clinical Nutrition