Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid, distinguished from other long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids by its specific chemical configuration. Bluefish, swordfish, salmon, and mackerel are rich in EPA. EPA has been studied in anorexia, and omega 3 fatty acid supplementation has been evaluated for its effect in fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, and prevention of infection.
Bruera, E., Strasser, F., Palmer, J. L., Willey, J., Calder, K., Amyotte, G., & Baracos, V. (2003). Effect of fish oil on appetite and other symptoms in patients with advanced cancer and anorexia/cachexia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21, 129–134.
Patients were given a daily dose of up to 18 gel capsules, including
The study was conducted at a Canadian acute palliative care unit and the inpatient and outpatient units of a cancer center.
The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Patients could not take 18 large capsules every day; the mean was 12 per day, with five patients in each group dropping out.
A strong trend was observed toward improved appetite in both groups. With the fish oil group, a trend existed toward less tiredness, but no significant change existed with appetite, weight loss, or calories.
Side effects of fish oil capsules included belching and fish oil taste.
Read, J. A., Beale, P. J., Volker, D. H., Smith, N., Childs, A., & Clarke, S. J. (2007). Nutrition intervention using an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-containing supplement in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Effects on nutritional and inflammatory status: a phase II trial. Supportive Care in Cancer, 15, 301–307.
An energy-dense oral nutritional supplement of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA-ONS), an anti-inflammatory agent, was shown to reduce weight loss, increase lean body mass, and improve functional capacity and nutritional status in previous research. The EPA intervention instructed patients to consume two tetrapaks (480 mL) of EPA-ONS per day in addition to their regular diet for a total of nine weeks. Tetrapacks contained 16 g of protein, 1.09 g of EPA, and 0.46 g of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Chemotherapy commenced at week 4 and was repeated every two weeks. Patient outcomes were assessed at baseline, the end of week 3, and the end of week 9.
The study was conducted at the Royal Prince Alfred and Concord Hospitals in Sydney, Australia.
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
This was an open-label, phase II study.
Disease and treatment assessment (DATA) form
The EPA intervention resulted in a trend toward improvement during the full course of therapy for overall well-being (p = 0.05) and energy (p = 0.03). The quality of life measure for fatigue was maintained at the same mean score throughout the study.