BACKGROUND: The aim of the current prospective, randomized control study was to investigate the effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids plus vitamin E on the immune status and survival of well-nourished and malnourished patients with generalized malignancy. METHODS:Sixty patients with generalized solid tumors were randomized to receive dietary supplementation with either fish oil (18 g of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA) or placebo daily until death. Each group included 15 well-nourished and 15 malnourished patients. The authors measured total T cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor cells, natural killer cells, and the synthesis of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor by peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and on Day 40 of fish oil supplementation. Karnofsky performance status, nutritional state, and survival were also estimated. RESULTS: The ratio of T-helper cells to T-suppressor cells was significantly lower in malnourished patients. Omega-3 PUFA had a considerable immunomodulating effect by increasing this ratio in the subgroup of malnourished patients. There were no significant differences in cytokine production among the various groups, except for a decrease in tumor necrosis factor production in malnourished cancer patients, which was restored by omega-3 fatty acids. The mean survival was significantly higher for the subgroup of well-nourished patients in both groups, whereas omega-3 fatty acids prolonged the survival of all the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition appears to be an important predictor of survival for patients with end stage malignant disease. Omega-3polyunsaturated fatty acids had a significant immunomodulating effect and seemed to prolong the survival of malnourished patients with generalized malignancy.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The aim of the current prospective, randomized control study was to investigate the effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids plus vitamin E on the immune status and survival of well-nourished and malnourished patients with generalized malignancy. METHODS: Sixty patients with generalized solid tumors were randomized to receive dietary supplementation with either fish oil (18 g of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA) or placebo daily until death. Each group included 15 well-nourished and 15 malnourished patients. The authors measured total T cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor cells, natural killer cells, and the synthesis of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor by peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and on Day 40 of fish oil supplementation. Karnofsky performance status, nutritional state, and survival were also estimated. RESULTS: The ratio of T-helper cells to T-suppressor cells was significantly lower in malnourished patients. Omega-3 PUFA had a considerable immunomodulating effect by increasing this ratio in the subgroup of malnourished patients. There were no significant differences in cytokine production among the various groups, except for a decrease in tumor necrosis factor production in malnourished cancerpatients, which was restored by omega-3 fatty acids. The mean survival was significantly higher for the subgroup of well-nourished patients in both groups, whereas omega-3 fatty acids prolonged the survival of all the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition appears to be an important predictor of survival for patients with end stage malignant disease. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids had a significant immunomodulating effect and seemed to prolong the survival of malnourished patients with generalized malignancy.
Authors: Mingyang Song; Xuehong Zhang; Jeffrey A Meyerhardt; Edward L Giovannucci; Shuji Ogino; Charles S Fuchs; Andrew T Chan Journal: Gut Date: 2016-07-19 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Marcus D Goncalves; Seo-Kyoung Hwang; Chantal Pauli; Charles J Murphy; Zhe Cheng; Benjamin D Hopkins; David Wu; Ryan M Loughran; Brooke M Emerling; Guoan Zhang; Douglas T Fearon; Lewis C Cantley Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2018-01-08 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Ian D Coulter; Mary L Hardy; Sally C Morton; Lara G Hilton; Wenli Tu; Di Valentine; Paul G Shekelle Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2006-07 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: K C H Fearon; M F Von Meyenfeldt; A G W Moses; R Van Geenen; A Roy; D J Gouma; A Giacosa; A Van Gossum; J Bauer; M D Barber; N K Aaronson; A C Voss; M J Tisdale Journal: Gut Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Joanne L Watters; Mitchell H Gail; Stephanie J Weinstein; Jarmo Virtamo; Demetrius Albanes Journal: Cancer Res Date: 2009-04-21 Impact factor: 12.701