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 Low
doses of fish oil supplements taken regularly give cancer patients
a better chance to stabilize their weight or even spur gains, according
to a study. Previous research and clinical investigations have found
the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil protects against cachexia,
a weight-loss condition connected to a chronic disease.
Omega-3s work three ways to fight against
cachexia:
- Inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory compounds
- Blocking the process by which tumors promote cachexia
- Slowing protein degradation and fat breakdown
More than 40 cancer patients with severe or moderate malnutrition
were given high doses of omega-3 supplements daily, depending on
his or her body weight to take with breakfast and lunch. (A patient
weighing 150 pounds would take 11 1-gram capsules, for example.)
Originally, researchers started by giving patients twice the number
of supplements, but lowered dosages because many couldn’t or
wouldn’t take that many capsules.
Six of the 36 participants who took some of the supplements either
gained the weight they previously lost or added an extra 5 percent,
and 24 more stabilized their weights, meaning these patients gained
or lost no more than 5 percent. The remaining patients lost more
than 5 percent of their weight.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea were common side effects. The capsule
size was also difficult for some patients to swallow. Side effects
forced 19 patients to stop taking omega-3, but others tolerated
the trial with few difficulties.
Researchers envision future studies of fish oil for treating cachexia
that begin at a point when patients are less severely ill, and last
for longer than 30 days, may have more positive results, scientists
said.
Yahoo
News August 6, 2004
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