Impact of fish oil and melatonin on cachexia in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer: a randomized pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of fish oil (FO), melatonin (MLT), or their combination and dietary advice on cachexia and biochemistry variables reflecting cachexia were investigated in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients not amenable to standard anticancer treatment and with documented weight loss and/or decreased serum albumin were included. They were randomized to 30 mL/d of FO, which provided 4.9 g of eicosapentaenoic acid and 3.2 g of docosahexanoic acid, or 18 mg/d of MLT for 4 wk. During the next 4 wk, all patients had FO and MLT. Serum or plasma was analyzed for tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 and the fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexanoic acid, arachidonic acid, and linoleic acid.


RESULTS
Serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexanoic acid increased as expected with FO. No major changes in biochemical variables and cytokines were observed with any intervention. In the FO group, 5 of 13 patients (38%) showed weight stabilization or gain compared with 3 of 11 patients (27%) in the MLT group. After combining interventions, approximately 63% of patients showed such responses.


CONCLUSIONS
FO, MLT, or their combination did not induce major biochemical changes indicative of a strong anticachectic effect. Nonetheless, the interventions used may have produced a weight-stabilizing effect.
Persson
Christina
C
Department of Oncology, Radiology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. christina.persson@akademiska.se
Glimelius
Bengt
B
Rönnelid
Johan
J
Nygren
Peter
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects
D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D008550:Melatonin