Fish Oil Supplementation Improves Neutrophil Function During Cancer Chemotherapy

Abstract

Cancer chemotherapy is associated with neutropenia and impaired neutrophil function. This study aimed to investigate whether supplementation with low dose fish oil (FO), providing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy after surgical tumor (mainly gastrointestinal) removal is able to improve the function of blood neutrophils. Patients (n = 38) receiving chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and leucovorin) were randomized into two groups; one group (control) did not receive a supplement, while the other group (FO) received 2 g FO/day for 8 weeks; the FO provided 0.3 g eicosapentaenoic acid plus 0.4 g docosahexaenoic acid per day. Patients in the control group lost an average of 2.5 kg of weight over the 8 weeks of the study. The number of blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC), mainly neutrophils, and their functions (phagocytosis and hydrogen peroxide production) decreased in the control group (average decreases of approximately 30, 45 and 17%, respectively). FO prevented these decreases and actually increased body weight (average of 1.7 kg weight gain; p < 0.002 vs. control group), PMNC number (average 29% increase), phagocytosis (average 14% increase) and superoxide production (average 28% increase). FO may be useful in preventing chemotherapy-induced decline in neutrophil number and function.

Omega-3 supplements for patients in chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy: A systematic review

“…Plasma levels of reactive oxygen species were also significantly lower in the fish oil group compared with the placebo group at two experimental timepoints [25]. Similarly, the fish oil group of the Bonatto et al study (2012) exhibited significantly higher levels of superoxide production by polymorphonuclear cells (average, 28%), and significantly lower levels of hydrogen peroxide production, compared to the control group [20]. To summarize, modification in level and quantity of oxidative products by EPA and DHA fish oil observed in these studies could be crucial to explain their cytotoxicity toward cancer cells and their ability to inhibit cancer cell growth.…”

“…In the Bonatto et al study (2012), the fatty acid composition of PMNC was found to be altered in the fish oil group, with significant increases in levels of EPA and DHA, and a significant decrease in levels of arachidonic acid (AA), observed. In contrast, the fatty acid composition of the control group remained unchanged [20]. In the Mocellin et al (2013) study, plasma levels of EPA and DHA increased significantly by an average of 1.8-fold and 1.4-fold, respectively (at baseline vs. week 9: p < 0.05) [23].…”

“…Moreover, these patients were compared with those that did not receive a nutritional supplement [20,22,23]. In the Bonatto et al (2012) study, the oncologic patients that received fish oil gained an average of 1.7 kg (P ¼ 0.002), while the control group lost an average of 2.5 kg [20].…”

“…Moreover, these patients were compared with those that did not receive a nutritional supplement [20,22,23]. In the Bonatto et al (2012) study, the oncologic patients that received fish oil gained an average of 1.7 kg (P ¼ 0.002), while the control group lost an average of 2.5 kg [20]. In the Silva et al (2012) study that included only colorectal cancer patients, no change in body weight and body mass index was observed for the patients that received fish oil (P > 0.05), while both indicators decreased for the patients that did not receive fish oil (P ¼ 0.01 and P ¼ 0.03, respectively) [22].…”

Feasibility of Intermittent Fish Oil Infusions in Outpatients with Graft- Versus-Host Disease of the Digestive Tract

“…Animal and human studies showed incorporation of n-3 FA to be associated with a reduction of proinflammatory cytokines and PGE2, after supplementation of at least 2 g of EPA per day in healthy subjects [16,17], patients with cancer [18][19][20], sepsis [21] and ARDS [22][23][24]. Supplementation of a lower dose of EPA did not modulate immune function in humans [25][26][27]. Small clinical studies from a Japanese group showed the relationship of GVHD and inflammation, and the probable beneficial effects of EPA [6,7].…”