title: Potential usefulness of an EPA-enriched nutritional supplement on chemotherapy tolerability in cancer patients without overt malnutrition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of an intervention with an Eicosapentaenoic Acid-enriched oral nutritional supplement on chemotherapy tolerability in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen patients diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer were included. Patients in the experimental group received 2 packs of supplement per day during 12 weeks plus dietary counseling. The control group only received dietary counseling. Patients were assessed for nutritional status, dietary intake, health related quality of life (HRQOL) and chemotherapy compliance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only patients in the supplemented group significantly increased their weight after the intervention. They also had better scores in important domains of HRQOL, compared to controls. Although not statistically significant, the supplemented group did not experience interruptions in their chemotherapy treatment compared to the control group, with more interruptions due to toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study, although limited by sample size, points out towards a positive effect of the intervention on chemotherapy tolerability.
authors.affiliation: Servei d'Endocrinologia i Nutrició, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain. joantrabal@gmail.com
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trabal
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leyes
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forga
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maurel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid