Marine phospholipids--a promising new dietary approach to tumor-associated weight loss.
OBJECTIVE
Advanced tumor disease very often evokes excessive loss of body weight. Among others, fish oil or marine fatty acid ethyl esters were investigated for treatment of cancer cachexia with controversial results. In this study, a new formulation of marine fatty acids was investigated, the marine phospholipids, with more than 50% of phospholipid-bound fatty acids being eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid.


METHODS
Thirty-one tumor patients with various tumor entities suffering from weight loss were asked to take marine phospholipids (1.5 g/day) as softgel capsules for a period of 6 weeks. Compliance, body weight, appetite, and quality of life as well as the fatty acid profile in plasma and blood cells were monitored; 17 patients could be analyzed.


RESULTS
Marine phospholipids were very well accepted; low-dose supplementation resulted in a significant increase of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid in plasma phospholipids; therefore, significantly reducing the n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio. A stabilization of body weight was achieved (median weight change of +0.6% after 6 weeks), while appetite and quality of life improved.


CONCLUSIONS
These promising first results encourage further investigation of marine phospholipids in cancer care.
Taylor
Lenka A
LA
Department of Clinical Research, Tumor Biology Center, Breisacher Strasse 117, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
Pletschen
Lars
L
Arends
Jann
J
Unger
Clemens
C
Massing
Ulrich
U
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002100:Cachexia / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002214:Capsules; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D011788:Quality of Life; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
D002214:Capsules; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005395:Fish Oils; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010743:Phospholipids