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Dietary
omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids plus vitamin E restore immunodeficiency and
prolong survival for severely ill patients with generalized malignancy: a
randomized control trial
Gogos CA, Ginopoulos P, Salsa B, Apostolidou E, Zoumbos NC,
Kalfarentzos F
Department of Medicine, Patras University Medical School,
Rion-Patras, Greece
Background. The aim of the current prospective, randomized control study
was to investigate the effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
plus vitamin E on the immune status and survival of well-nourished and
malnourished patients with generalized malignancy.
Methods. Sixty patients with generalized solid tumors were randomized to
receive dietary supplementation with either fish oil (18 g of omega-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA) or placebo daily until death.
Each group included 15 well-nourished and 15 malnourished patients.
The authors measured total T cells, T-helper cells, T-suppressor cells, natural
killer cells, and the synthesis of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor
necrosis factor by peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and on Day 40 of
fish oil supplementation.
Karnofsky performance status, nutritional state, and survival were also
estimated.
Results. The ratio of T-helper cells to T-suppressor cells was
significantly lower in malnourished patients.
Omega-3 PUFA had a considerable immunomodulating effect by increasing this ratio
in the subgroup of malnourished patients.
There were no significant differences in cytokine production among the various
groups, except for a decrease in tumor necrosis factor production in
malnourished cancer patients, which was restored by omega-3 fatty acids.
The mean survival was significantly higher for the subgroup of well-nourished
patients in both groups, whereas omega-3 fatty acids prolonged the survival of
all the patients.
Conclusions. Malnutrition appears to be an important predictor of
survival for patients with end stage malignant disease. Omega-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids had a significant immunomodulating effect and seemed to prolong the
survival of malnourished patients with generalized malignancy.
PMID:
9445198 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9445198&dopt=Abstract
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