effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on nutritional status in patients with gastric cancer during chemotherapy

ba ckground: although some studies have shown positive effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on nutritional status of cancer patients undergoing different treatments, there is no consistency in results. the aim of this study was to examine the effects of omega-3 fatty acid on the nutritional status of gastric cancer patients during the course of chemotherapy. m ethods : in a double-blind clinical trial, 30 adult patients with gastric cancer receiving chemotherapy were randomized into a supplement and a placebo groups and given daily, for 6 weeks, a 3-g omega-3 fatty acid supplement (containing 1.8g eicosapentaeonic plus 1.2g docosahexaenoic acid) and oral paraffin, respectively. anthropometric data was collected and nutritional status assessed at the beginning,at week 4 and at the end of week 6. the data were analyzed using repeated measures anova and independent sample t-test. results : the findings indicated that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increased body weight, mean daily intake of   energy and macronutrients, serum levels of transferrin and albumin at the end of the 6-week period significantly (p<0.05). all these variables decreased in the placebo group (p<0.05). the increases in body weight, energy and  carbohydrate intakes, and  serum levels  of  albumin in  the supplement group were time-dependent (p<0.05). conclusion : the results of present study showed that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can  improve  nutritional status  in  patients with  gastric  cancer during the course of chemotherapy. we recommend using omega-3 fatty acid supplement in patients with gastric cancer during chemotherapy.