title: Echium oil is not protective against weight loss in head and neck cancer patients undergoing curative radio(chemo)therapy: a randomised-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Therapy-induced mucositis and dysphagia puts head and neck (H&N) cancer patients at increased risk for developing cachexia. Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) have been suggested to protect against cachexia. We aimed to examine if echium oil, a plant source of n-3 FA, could reduce weight loss in H&N cancer patients undergoing radio(chemo)therapy with curative intent.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind trial, patients were randomly assigned to echium oil (intervention (I) group; 7.5 ml bis in die (b.i.d.), 235 mg/ml α-linolenic acid (ALA) + 95 mg/ml stearidonic acid (SDA) + 79 mg/ml γ-linolenic acid (GLA)) or n-3 FA deficient sunflower oil high oleic (control (C) group; 7.5 ml b.i.d.) additional to standard nutritional support during treatment. Differences in percentage weight loss between both groups were analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Erythrocyte FA profile, body composition, nutritional status and quality of life were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one eligible patients were randomised, of whom 83 were evaluable. Dietary supplement adherence was comparable in both groups (median, I: 87%, C: 81%). At week 4, the I group showed significantly increased values of erythrocyte n-3 eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, 14% vs -5%) and n-6 GLA (42% vs -20%) compared to the C group, without a significant change in n-6 arachidonic acid (AA, 2% vs -1%). Intention-to-treat analysis could not reveal a significant reduction in weight loss related to echium oil consumption (median weight loss, I: 8.9%, C: 7.6%). Also, no significant improvement was observed in the other evaluated anthropometric parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Echium oil effectively increased erythrocyte EPA and GLA FAs in H&N cancer patients. It failed however to protect against weight loss, or improve nutritional parameters.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01596933.
authors.forename: Lies
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pottel
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lycke
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boterberg
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pottel
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goethals
authors.forename: Fréderic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duprez
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goemaere
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rottey
authors.forename: Imogen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Foubert
authors.affiliation: Cancer Centre, General Hospital Groeninge, Loofstraat 43, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium. Philip.Debruyne@azgroeninge.be.
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Debruyne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002100:Cachexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D036661:Echium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010938:Plant Oils