Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid on Body Composition and Inflammation Markers in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer from a Public Hospital in Mexico

Obed Solís-Martínez, Valentina Plasa-Carvalho, Geraldine Phillips-Sixtos, Yanelly Trujillo-Cabrera, Arturo Hernández-Cuellar, Gloria E. Queipo-García, Eduardo Meaney-Mendiolea, Guillermo M. Ceballos-Reyes, Vanessa Fuchs-Tarlovsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck cancer patients are at high risk of anorexia-cachexia syndrome and literature shows that Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) could regulate it. We aim to determine the EPA effect on body composition and pro-inflammatory markers in patients with head neck cancer. Materials and methods: A randomized single-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer who received a polymeric diet with 2 g of EPA or a standard polymeric diet for six weeks before antineoplastic treatment. We assessed body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis and determined IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ, CRP, serum proteins, and blood count at baseline and at the end of the study. Results: 32 patients received EPA (2 g/day) and 32 became controls. A decrease in serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ was observed in the experimental group, as well as regulation of body weight (−0.3 ± 5.9 vs. −2.1 ± 3.7), lean body mass (−0.2 ± 3.8 vs. −1.3 ± 3.6), body fat mass (0.2 ± 3.5 vs. −1.2 ± 3.8), and quality of life (10 ± 33 vs. 5 ± 34). Conclusion: Supplementing with 2 g/day of EPA to head and neck cancer patient during antineoplastic treatment regulates serum pro-inflammatory cytokines, body weight, lean body mass, and improve quality of life.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)663-670
Number of pages8
JournalNutrition and Cancer
Volume70
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 19 May 2018

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