Greek medical researchers report Fish oils improve survival of cancer patients

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PATRAS. , GREECE. Chemotherapy and other conventional medical

treatments

have proven ineffective in improving quality of life and survival of

patients with end stage cancer. Now Greek medical researchers report

that fish oil supplementation markedly increases the survival time for

cancer patients with generalized malignancy. Their study involved 60

patients with generalized solid tumors. The patients were divided into

two groups with one group receiving 18 grams/day of fish oil (six

capsules of MAX EPA three times daily containing 170 mg eicosapentaenoic

acid [EPA] and d115 mg docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] per capsule) and the

other group receiving a placebo.

The fish oil group also received 200 mg

of vitamin E daily to compensate for the oxidative effect of the fish oil.

 

Each group included 15 well-nourished and 15 malnourished patients.

None of the well-noruished patients suffered from cancer cachexia

(abnormally low weight and general weakness). The researchers measured

the level of T cells, natural killer cells, and the synthesis of

interleukin and tumor necrosis factor before the start of the

supplementation and on day 40 of the trial.

 

The study followed all

patients until they died. Malnourished patients were found to have a

considerably impaired immune function and a decreased production of

tumor necrosis factor; both parameters were restored through fish oil

supplementation.

 

malnourished patients overall had a much shorter

survival time than well-noruished ones (mean of 213 days versus 481

days).

 

both malnourished and well-nourished patients who received fish

oil and vitamin E survived significantly longer than did patients on

placebo. The researchers speculate that fish oils exert their beneficial

effect by decreasing the body's production of prostaglandin E2 which is believed

to play an important role in the initiation and progression of cancer.

 

They conclude that supplementation with dietary omega-3

polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically fish oils with an antioxidant

such as vitamin E may offer significant palliative support to cancer

patients with end stage metastatic disease.

 

Gogos, Charalambos A., et

al. Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids plus vitamin E restore

immunodeficiency and prolong survival for severely ill patients with

generalized malignancy. Cancer, Vol. 82, January 15, 1998, pp. 395-402

 

 

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