Oral nutritional supplements containing (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids affect the nutritional status of patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer during multimodality treatment.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), (n-3) fatty acids from fish oil, have immune-modulating effects and may improve nutritional status in cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of an oral nutritional supplement containing (n-3) fatty acids on nutritional status and inflammatory markers in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing multimodality treatment. In a double-blind experiment, 40 patients with stage III NSCLC were randomly assigned to receive 2 cans/d of a protein- and energy-dense oral nutritional supplement containing (n-3) fatty acids (2.0 g EPA + 0.9 g DHA/d) or an isocaloric control supplement. EPA in plasma phospholipids, energy intake, resting energy expenditure (REE), body weight, fat free mass (FFM), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and inflammatory markers were assessed. Effects of intervention were analyzed by generalized estimating equations and expressed as regression coefficients (B). The intervention group (I) had a better weight maintenance than the control (C) group after 2 and 4 wk (B = 1.3 and 1.7 kg, respectively; P < 0.05), a better FFM maintenance after 3 and 5 wk (B = 1.5 and 1.9 kg, respectively; P < 0.05), a reduced REE (B = -16.7% of predicted; P = 0.01) after 3 wk, and a trend for a greater MUAC (B = 9.1; P = 0.06) and lower interleukin-6 production (B = -27.9; P = 0.08) after 5 wk. After 4 wk, the I group had a higher energy and protein intake than the C group (B = 2456 kJ/24 h, P = 0.03 and B = 25.0 g, P = 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, a protein- and energy-dense oral nutritional supplement containing (n-3) fatty acids beneficially affects nutritional status during multimodality treatment in patients with NSCLC.
van der Meij
Barbara S
BS
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Langius
Jacqueline A E
JA
Smit
Egbert F
EF
Spreeuwenberg
Marieke D
MD
von Blomberg
B Mary E
BM
Heijboer
Annemieke C
AC
Paul
Marinus A
MA
van Leeuwen
Paul A M
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D010919:Placebos
D015415:Biomarkers; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D010743:Phospholipids; D010919:Placebos; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid