title: The effect of an oral nutritional supplement enriched with fish oil on weight-loss in patients with pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Previous studies have suggested that administration of oral eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) will stabilize weight in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine if a combination of EPA with a conventional oral nutritional supplement could produce weight gain in these patients. Twenty patients with unresectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma were asked to consume two cans of a fish oil-enriched nutritional supplement per day in addition to their normal food intake. Each can contained 310 kcal, 16.1 g protein and 1.09 g EPA. Patients were assessed for weight, body composition, dietary intake, resting energy expenditure (REE) and performance status. Patients consumed a median of 1.9 cans day(-1). All patients were losing weight at baseline at a median rate of 2.9 kg month(-1). After administration of the fish oil-enriched supplement, patients had significant weight-gain at both 3 (median 1 kg, P= 0.024) and 7 weeks (median 2 kg, P = 0.033). Dietary intake increased significantly by almost 400 kcal day(-1) (P = 0.002). REE per kg body weight and per kg lean body mass fell significantly. Performance status and appetite were significantly improved at 3 weeks. In contrast to previous studies of oral conventional nutritional supplements in weight-losing cancer patients, this study suggests that an EPA-enriched supplement may reverse cachexia in advanced pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tisdale
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Fearon
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005395:Fish Oils; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid