title: Oral nutritional supplements containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids affect quality of life and functional status in lung cancer patients during multimodality treatment: an RCT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to investigate effects of an oral nutritional supplement containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) on quality of life, performance status, handgrip strength and physical activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing multimodality treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind experiment, 40 patients with stage III NSCLC were randomised to receive 2 cans/day of a protein- and energy-dense oral nutritional supplement containing n-3 polyunsaturated FAs (2.02 g eicosapentaenoic acid+0.92 g docosahexaenoic acid/day) or an isocaloric control supplement, during multimodality treatment. Quality of life, Karnofsky Performance Status, handgrip strength and physical activity (by wearing an accelerometer) were assessed. Effects of intervention were analysed by generalised estimating equations. P-values <0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group reported significantly higher on the quality of life parameters, physical and cognitive function (B=11.6 and B=20.7, P<0.01), global health status (B=12.2, P=0.04) and social function (B=22.1, P=0.04) than the control group after 5 weeks. The intervention group showed a higher Karnofsky Performance Status (B=5.3, P=0.04) than the control group after 3 weeks. Handgrip strength did not significantly differ between groups over time. The intervention group tended to have a higher physical activity than the control group after 3 and 5 weeks (B=6.6, P=0.04 and B=2.5, P=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  n-3 Polyunsaturated FAs may beneficially affect quality of life, performance status and physical activity in patients with NSCLC undergoing multimodality treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Internal Medicine, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: van der Meij
authors.forename: J A E
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Langius
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Spreeuwenberg
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Slootmaker
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: P A M
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D002149:Energy Intake; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid