title: Improved antioxidant status by omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide and the third most common cancer in India. Various studies have reported that chemotherapy reduces the antioxidant status in patients with cancer. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to offer protection against breast cancer through various mechanisms. However, there are no reports suggesting a relationship between consumption of omega-3 fatty acids during chemotherapy and antioxidant status in patients with breast cancer. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether fish oil supplementation could improve the antioxidant status of five women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report on the cases of five Indian women with breast cancer, in the age group of 34 to 60 years, who had poorly differentiated breast carcinoma and underwent modified radical mastectomy. Postsurgery, the patients were given fish oil capsules containing eicosapentaenoic acid (180 mg) and docosahexaenoic acid (120 mg)/capsule during their chemotherapy. Informed consent was obtained from each participant and they were followed-up to the completion of six chemotherapy cycles at 21-day intervals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The supplementation of fish oil significantly (p < 0.01) increased superoxide dismutases, glutathione reductase and catalase activity in red blood cells as well as the total plasma antioxidant status in the patients. This approach of using omega-3 fatty acids as an adjuvant treatment for breast cancer may help oncologists to manage the side effects of ongoing chemotherapy by improving the antioxidant status in patients.
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Katraj-Dhankawadi, Pune, 411043, Maharashtra, India. prakashpm@live.com.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mansara
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Bharati Vidyapeeth Hospital and Research Centre (BVHRC), Pune, 411043, India. mrunalnitin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mrunal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ketkar
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Katraj-Dhankawadi, Pune, 411043, Maharashtra, India. rashmi.anil.deshpande@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rashmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Katraj-Dhankawadi, Pune, 411043, Maharashtra, India. amolchaudhary1988@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Katraj-Dhankawadi, Pune, 411043, Maharashtra, India. kavitashinde83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinde
authors.affiliation: Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Katraj-Dhankawadi, Pune, 411043, Maharashtra, India. ruchika.kaulghanekar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ruchika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaul-Ghanekar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase