Effect of n-3 fatty acids on patients with advanced lung cancer: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

PUFA from fish oil appear to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects and improve nutritional status in cancer patients. With this as background, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of EPA plus DHA on inflammatory condition, and oxidative and nutritional status in patients with lung cancer. In our multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial, thirty-three patients with a diagnosis of advanced inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer and undergoing chemotherapy were divided into two groups, receiving four capsules/d containing 510 mg of EPA and 340 mg of DHA, or 850 mg of placebo, for 66 d. At the start of chemotherapy (T 0 ), after 8 d (T 1 ), 22 d (T 2 ) and 66 d (T 3 ), biochemical (inflammatory and oxidative status parameters) and anthropometric parameters were measured in both groups. A significant increase of body weight in the n-3 group at T 3 v. T 0 was observed. Concerning inflammation, C-reactive protein and IL-6 levels differed significantly between the n-3 and placebo groups at T 3 , and progressively decreased during chemotherapy in the n-3 group, evidencing n-3 PUFA anti-inflammatory action. Concerning oxidative status, plasma reactive oxygen species levels increased in the placebo group v. the n-3 group at the later treatment times. Hydroxynonenal levels increased in the placebo group during the study, while they stabilised in the n-3 group. Our data confirm that the continual assumption of EPA plus DHA determined an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative action which could be considered a preliminary goal in anti-cachectic therapy.

Antitumour activity of EPA-enriched phospholipids liposomes against S180 ascitic tumour-bearing mice

“…Moreover, it has also been proved that the continual consumption of EPA plus DHA significantly decreased the ROS levels in the plasma of patients with advanced inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (Finocchiaro et al, 2012). Consistent with this, similar findings were observed in the present study.…”

Measurement of red blood cell eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels in a randomised trial of EPA in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases

“…Baseline and post-treatment RBC PUFA levels in EMT study participants were similar to those reported previously in studies of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in healthy volunteers [13,19], women with breast hyperplasia [20][21] and in patients with lung cancer [22]. In particular, post-treatment % RBC EPA values were similar to those observed in an eight-week study of exactly the same EPA-FFA formulation and dose in healthy volunteers and inflammatory bowel disease patients [23].…”

Expand+In Vivoiv.iiarjournals.orgIn Vivo September-October 2017 vol. 31 no. 5 1003-1009 Elevated Serum AA/EPA Ratio as a Predictor of Skeletal Muscle Depletion in Cachexic Patients with Advanced Gastro-intestinal Cancers

“…There have been reports that inflammation and nutritional status improved by intervention with fish oil administration. (7,21,22). As fish oil is rich in EPA and DHA, we therefore considered that an improved CRP and decreased serum AA/EPA ratio, or n-6/n-3 ratio could be reached by eating a diet with n-3 fatty acid, such as EPA and DHA.…”