Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 21, Issue 1
(January), 2003: 129-134
© 2003 American Society for Clinical Oncology
Effect of Fish Oil on Appetite and Other Symptoms in Patients With Advanced Cancer and Anorexia/Cachexia: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Eduardo Bruera,
Florian Strasser,
J. Lynn Palmer,
Jie Willey,
Kathryn Calder,
Gail Amyotte,
Vickie Baracos
From the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Palliative Care Program, Grey Nuns Community Hospital and Health Center, Cross Cancer Institute, and University of Alberta, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, and Department of Oncology, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Address reprint requests to Eduardo Bruera, MD, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine (Box 0008), The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030-0049; email: ebruera{at}mail.mdanderson.org.
Purpose: To determine whether high doses of fish oil, administered over 2 weeks, improve symptoms in patients with advanced cancer and decreased weight and appetite.
Patients and Methods: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to fish oil capsules or placebo. Appetite, tiredness, nausea, well-being, caloric intake, nutritional status, and function were prospectively assessed at days 1 and 14.
Results: The baseline weight loss was 16 ± 11 and 16 ± 8 kg in the fish oil (n = 30) and placebo (n = 30) group respectively, whereas the baseline appetite (0 mm = best and 10 mm = worst) was 58 ± 24 mm and 67 ± 19 mm, respectively (P = not significant). The mean daily dose was 10 ± 4 (fish oil group) and 9 ± 3 (placebo group) capsules, which provided 1.8 g of eicosapentaenoic acid and 1.2 g of docosahexaenoic acid in the fish oil group. No significant differences in symptomatic or nutritional parameters were found (P < .05), and there was no correlation between changes in different variables between days 1 and 14 and the fish oil doses. Finally, the majority of the patients were not able to swallow more than 10 fish oil capsules per day, mainly because of burping and aftertaste.
Conclusion: Fish oil did not significantly influence appetite, tiredness, nausea, well-being, caloric intake, nutritional status, or function after 2 weeks compared with placebo in patients with advanced cancer and loss of both weight and appetite.
Project supported in part by the Tobacco Settlement Foundation, Houston, TX. F.S. is supported by BIL grant no. KFS 950-09-1999 from Swiss Cancer Research Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
 CiteULike  Complore  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Facebook  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
D. A. August, M. B. Huhmann, and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nu
A.S.P.E.N. Clinical Guidelines: Nutrition Support Therapy During Adult Anticancer Treatment and in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr,
September 1, 2009;
33(5):
472 - 500.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. W. Fetterman Jr. and M. M. Zdanowicz
Therapeutic potential of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in disease
Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm.,
July 1, 2009;
66(13):
1169 - 1179.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Bozzetti and L. Mariani
Defining and Classifying Cancer Cachexia: A Proposal by the SCRINIO Working Group
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr,
July 1, 2009;
33(4):
361 - 367.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N. Kaul, R. Kreml, J. A. Austria, M. N. Richard, A. L. Edel, E. Dibrov, S. Hirono, M. E. Zettler, and G. N. Pierce
A Comparison of Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil and Hempseed Oil Supplementation on Selected Parameters of Cardiovascular Health in Healthy Volunteers
J. Am. Coll. Nutr.,
February 1, 2008;
27(1):
51 - 58.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. G. Mutch, M. Orlando, T. Goss, M. G. Teneriello, A. N. Gordon, S. D. McMeekin, Y. Wang, D. R. Scribner Jr, M. Marciniack, R. W. Naumann, et al.
Randomized Phase III Trial of Gemcitabine Compared With Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin in Patients With Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer
J. Clin. Oncol.,
July 1, 2007;
25(19):
2811 - 2818.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Ma and A. Jatoi
Wine for Appetite Loss: "How Do You Know?"
J. Clin. Oncol.,
April 1, 2007;
25(10):
1285 - 1287.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. L. Loprinzi, D. L. Barton, and J. A. Sloan
Whose Opinion Counts?
J. Clin. Oncol.,
November 20, 2006;
24(33):
5183 - 5185.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. L Hutton, L. Martin, C. J Field, W. V Wismer, E. D Bruera, S. M Watanabe, and V. E Baracos
Dietary patterns in patients with advanced cancer: implications for anorexia-cachexia therapy.
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
November 1, 2006;
84(5):
1163 - 1170.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Doyle, L. H. Kushi, T. Byers, K. S. Courneya, W. Demark-Wahnefried, B. Grant, A. McTiernan, C. L. Rock, C. Thompson, T. Gansler, et al.
Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: An American Cancer Society Guide for Informed Choices
CA Cancer J Clin,
November 1, 2006;
56(6):
323 - 353.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E Shragge, W. V Wismer, K. L Olson, and V. E Baracos
The management of anorexia by patients with advanced cancer: a critical review of the literature
Palliative Medicine,
September 1, 2006;
20(6):
623 - 629.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. C.H. Fearon, M. D. Barber, A. G. Moses, S. H. Ahmedzai, G. S. Taylor, M. J. Tisdale, and G. D. Murray
Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Study of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Diester in Patients With Cancer Cachexia
J. Clin. Oncol.,
July 20, 2006;
24(21):
3401 - 3407.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. E Morley, D. R Thomas, and M.-M. G Wilson
Cachexia: pathophysiology and clinical relevance.
Am. J. Clinical Nutrition,
April 1, 2006;
83(4):
735 - 743.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Siddiqui, D. Pandya, K. Harvey, and G. P. Zaloga
Nutrition Modulation of Cachexia/Proteolysis
Nutr Clin Pract,
April 1, 2006;
21(2):
155 - 167.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Usami, A. Ohata, K. Kishimoto, K. Ohmae, M. Aoyama, M. Miyoshi, and Y. Fueda
Phospholipid Fatty Acid Composition and Diamine Oxidase Activity of Intestinal Mucosa From Rats Treated With Irinotecan Hydrochloride (CPT-11) under Vegetable Oil-Enriched Diets: Comparison Between Perilla Oil and Corn Oil
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr,
March 1, 2006;
30(2):
124 - 132.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Yavuzsen, M. P. Davis, D. Walsh, S. LeGrand, and R. Lagman
Systematic Review of the Treatment of Cancer-Associated Anorexia and Weight Loss
J. Clin. Oncol.,
November 20, 2005;
23(33):
8500 - 8511.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. George, T. Chen, and C. C. Taylor
Src Tyrosine Kinase and Multidrug Resistance Protein-1 Inhibitions Act Independently but Cooperatively to Restore Paclitaxel Sensitivity to Paclitaxel-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells
Cancer Res.,
November 15, 2005;
65(22):
10381 - 10388.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. H. Esper and W. A. Harb
The Cancer Cachexia Syndrome: A Review of Metabolic and Clinical Manifestations
Nutr Clin Pract,
August 1, 2005;
20(4):
369 - 376.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Jatoi
{Omega}-3 Fatty Acid Supplements for Cancer-Associated Weight Loss
Nutr Clin Pract,
August 1, 2005;
20(4):
394 - 399.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Jatoi, C. L. Loprinzi, K. Rowland, and S. Dakhil
In Reply:
J. Clin. Oncol.,
June 1, 2005;
23(16):
3854 - 3855.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Jatoi, C. Loprinzi, K. Rowland, and S. Dakhil
In Reply:
J. Clin. Oncol.,
April 20, 2005;
23(12):
2872 - 2873.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. Bruera, R. Sala, M. A. Rico, J. Moyano, C. Centeno, J. Willey, and J. L. Palmer
Effects of Parenteral Hydration in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Study
J. Clin. Oncol.,
April 1, 2005;
23(10):
2366 - 2371.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J N Gordon, T M Trebble, R D Ellis, H D Duncan, T Johns, and P M Goggin
Thalidomide in the treatment of cancer cachexia: a randomised placebo controlled trial
Gut,
April 1, 2005;
54(4):
540 - 545.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Sessa, F. De Braud, A. Perotti, J. Bauer, G. Curigliano, C. Noberasco, F. Zanaboni, L. Gianni, S. Marsoni, J. Jimeno, et al.
Trabectedin for Women With Ovarian Carcinoma After Treatment With Platinum and Taxanes Fails
J. Clin. Oncol.,
March 20, 2005;
23(9):
1867 - 1874.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Chen, Y. Pengetnze, and C. C. Taylor
Src inhibition enhances paclitaxel cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer cells by caspase-9-independent activation of caspase-3
Mol. Cancer Ther.,
February 1, 2005;
4(2):
217 - 224.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. P. Ander, A. R. Weber, P. P. Rampersad, J. S. C. Gilchrist, G. N. Pierce, and A. Lukas
Dietary Flaxseed Protects against Ventricular Fibrillation Induced by Ischemia-Reperfusion in Normal and Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits
J. Nutr.,
December 1, 2004;
134(12):
3250 - 3256.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Jatoi, K. Rowland, C. L. Loprinzi, J. A. Sloan, S. R. Dakhil, N. MacDonald, B. Gagnon, P. J. Novotny, J. A. Mailliard, T. I.L. Bushey, et al.
An Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplement Versus Megestrol Acetate Versus Both for Patients With Cancer-Associated Wasting: A North Central Cancer Treatment Group and National Cancer Institute of Canada Collaborative Effort
J. Clin. Oncol.,
June 15, 2004;
22(12):
2469 - 2476.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Belda-Iniesta, J. de Castro Carpeno, J. A. Fresno Vara, P. C. Guerrero, E. C. Saenz, E. E. Arranz, A. R. Sanchez, J. F. Battle, and M. G. Baron
Eicosapentaenoic Acid As a Targeted Therapy for Cancer Cachexia
J. Clin. Oncol.,
December 15, 2003;
21(24):
4657 - 4658.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Wall
Fish Oil Supplementation in Patients With Advanced Cancer
J. Clin. Oncol.,
September 15, 2003;
21(18):
3545 - 3545.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. K. Brown, T. Byers, C. Doyle, K. S. Courneya, W. Demark-Wahnefried, L. H. Kushi, A. McTiernan, C. L. Rock, N. Aziz, A. S. Bloch, et al.
Nutrition and Physical Activity During and After Cancer Treatment: An American Cancer Society Guide for Informed Choices
CA Cancer J Clin,
September 1, 2003;
53(5):
268 - 291.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. W. Dixon
Integrative Tumor Board: Colon Cancer with Liver Metastases
Integr Cancer Ther,
June 1, 2003;
2(2):
173 - 180.
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
