title: Rapid EPA and DHA incorporation and reduced PGE2 levels after one week intervention with a medical food in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, a randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In cancer patients, metabolic alterations, reduced immune competence and anti-cancer treatment can increase the risk of infections. A rapid-acting nutritional intervention might reduce this risk and support overall treatment. The present study investigated whether one week of intervention with a specific medical food led to fatty acid incorporation and functional immunological changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized, double-blind study, 38 cancer patients receiving radiotherapy consumed daily for one week 400 ml of specific medical food, which is high in protein and leucine, and enriched with fish oil and specific oligosaccharides (Active group), or iso-caloric/iso-nitrogenous product (Control group). Blood samples were taken at day 0 (baseline) and day 7.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After one week of intervention, the incorporation of EPA and DHA in white blood cells was significantly higher in the Active group (2.6% and 2.6% of total fatty acids) compared to the Control group (1.0% and 2.2% of total fatty acids) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05). Serum PGE2 levels decreased in the Active group and increased in the Control group (p < 0.01). No differences were observed on cytokine production in LPS-stimulated whole blood cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, nutritional intervention with a specific medical food rapidly increased the percentage EPA and DHA in white blood cell phospholipids and reduced serum levels of the inflammatory mediator PGE2 within one week. CLINICAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR2121.
authors.affiliation: Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition, Danone Research, Centre for Specialised Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands. joyce.faber@nutricia.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berkhout
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Avlar
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Witteman
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garssen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Helvoort
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Otten
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arends
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000097:blood*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D007930:Leucine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005395:Fish Oils; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016209:Interleukin-8; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D010743:Phospholipids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D007930:Leucine; D015232:Dinoprostone