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Fish Oil and EPO in Breast Cancer

Not Applicable
Conditions
Breast Cancer
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Fish oil + EPO
Registration Number
NCT03516253
Lead Sponsor
University of Belgrade
Brief Summary

Recent literature data suggest beneficial effects of dietary fats in patients with cancers, in particular polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Fish oil and evening primrose oil provide a high amount of PUFAs and a desirable n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio.

Detailed Description

Breast cancer (BC) is leading cancer in women. As most of the cancers, it is characterized by inflammation and alternations in lipid and fatty acid metabolism. Patients with BC have impaired fatty acid profiles, low level of PUFAs, and high n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio. Moreover, these changes are related to clinical outcome.

Fish oil is the richest source of anti-inflammatory n-3 PUFAs. Evening primrose oil (EPO) is rich in 18:3 n-6, the only n-6 fatty acid with an anti-inflammatory effect. Dietary intake of fish oil or EPO has been shown to decrease inflammation and improve PUFAs status in patients with cancers. However, it is not known what is the effect of combined EPO and fish oil in BC patients.

The study design is double-blind, controlled, randomized nutritional intervention. The participants are randomly assigned into intervention and control group before starting chemotherapy. All patients receive nutritional counseling to achieve a daily energy and protein intake according to recommended dietary allowances, with (intervention) or without (control) of milled seed mix.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Histologically confirmed breast cancer,
  • Clinical Stadium III and IV,
  • Patients able to understand requirements of the study and provide written informed consent-
Exclusion Criteria
  • Previous radio- or chemotherapy
  • Other serious chronic diseases
  • Statin therapy
  • Use of fat-based dietary supplements (such as fish oil, evening primrose oil etc) 3 months prior to study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention groupFish oil + EPODietary Supplement: Fish oil + EPO. Fish oil (2 gel capsules, each 1g fish oil with 500 mg EPA+DHA) and EPO (Evening primrose oil 3 gel capsules with 117 mg GLA), 3 months with lunch.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in quality of lifeBaseline, 3 months, 1 year

Assessed by standardized questionnaires, scale 1-4 (1-not at all, 2- a little, 3 - quite a bit, 4- very much), higher value represents worse outcome.

Change in disease statusBaseline, 3 months, 1 year

Remission, stable disease or progression

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in plasma fatty acids profilesBaseline, 3 months, 1 year

Changes in plasma fatty acids profiles from baseline to endpoint

Changes in interleukinsBaseline, 3 months, 1 year

Changes in interleukins (IL)-6, 8,10 and TNF alpha from baseline to endpoint

Changes in activity of superoxide dismutase.Baseline, 3 months, 1 year

Measures of activity of superoxide dismutase.

Changes in nutritional statusBaseline, 3 months, 1 year

Changes in body weight measured by bio-impedance analyzer, from baseline to endpoint

Changes in activity of glutathion peroxidase.Baseline, 3 months, 1 year

Measures of activity of glutathion peroxidase.

Changes in lipid profilesBaseline, 3 months, 1 year

Changes in lipid profiles (cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides) from baseline to endpoint

Changes in activity of catalase.Baseline, 3 months, 1 year

Measures of activity of catalase.

Changes in activity of glutathion reductase.Baseline, 3 months, 1 year

Measures of activity of glutathion reductase.

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Military medical academy

🇷🇸

Belgrade, Serbia

University of Belgrade

🇷🇸

Belgrade, Serbia

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