Just last week I wrote about a study in which fish oil combined with chemotherapy for lung cancer improved the response and possibly survival. Now another study suggests fish oil may help with maintaining weight and muscle mass as well.
Researchers separated 40 people with non-small cell lung cancer into two groups for their first course of chemotherapy (a 10 week course). One group was given a supplement of 2.2 grams of eicosapentanenoic acid (EPA) daily, an omega-3 fatty acid derived from fish oil. The other group was given "standard care" without the supplement.
On average, the fish oil group maintained their weight, whereas the group that didn't receive fish oil lost about 5 pounds. Muscle mass was better preserved in the fish oil group as well, with 69% (vs 29% in the non-supplement group) either maintaining or gaining muscle mass. There was no difference between the two groups in adipose tissue (fat tissue) gained or lost.
This was a small study, but another study last year in people living with stage 3 lung cancer found that fish oil supplementation improved nutritional status as well.
Why is this important?
Unlike many of us who don't mind losing a pound or two, weight loss and loss of muscle mass in people living with cancer can be a big problem. Malnutrition may worsen the side effects of chemotherapy, it is associated with a poor quality of life, and may have a significant impact on survival. In one study it was estimated that malnutrition is a hidden cause of lung cancer deaths, responsible for perhaps 20 to 40% of deaths.
Again it's important to stress that any supplements you take during cancer treatment should be discussed carefully with your doctor, as some supplements could actually interfere with your treatment.
Photo: istockphoto.com
Source:
Murphy, R. et al. Nutritional intervention with fish oil provides a benefit over standard of care for weight and skeletal muscle mass in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer receiving chemotherapy. Cancer. Published online 28 Feb 2011. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.25709.
van der Meij, M. et al. Oral nutritional supplements containing (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids affect the nutritional status of patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer during multimodality treatment. Journal of Nutrition. 2010. 140(10):1774-80.
