A systematic review on the role of fish oil for the treatment of cachexia in advanced cancer: An EPCRC cachexia guidelines project

Ries A, Trottenberg P, Elsner F, Stiel S, Haugen D, Kaasa S, Radbruch L (2012)

Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2012

Journal

Palliative Medicine SAGE Publications (UK and US)

Book Volume: 26

Pages Range: 294-304

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1177/0269216311418709

Abstract

Background: The European Palliative Care Research Collaboration is developing clinical guidelines on cachexia in patients with advanced cancer. A systematic review on the use of fish oil/omega-3-fatty acids (n-3-FA)/eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) in advanced cancer patients suffering from cancer cachexia was performed as part of the guideline development.Methods: The systematic literature search in Medline on the use of fish oil/n-3-FA/EPA identified 244 papers, with 38 publications included in the final evaluation. Some smaller trials, often unrandomized and without a control group, reported a good effect of n-3-FA in patients with advanced cancer and cachexia. However, the results of the larger randomized controlled trials could not support the positive results, as they mostly did not find a significant effect.Results: Adverse effects such as abdominal discomfort, fish belching, fish aftertaste, nausea and diarrhoea were reported with a low incidence. No serious adverse effects were documented, but adverse effects often had an impact on quality of life. This often limited dose escalations or even led to discontinuation of n-3-FA.Conclusion: There is not enough evidence to support a net benefit of n-3-FA in cachexia in advanced cancer. On the other hand, adverse effects were infrequent, with no severe adverse effects. The results from the review led to a weak negative GRADE recommendation. © 2011 The Author(s).

Involved external institutions

Universitätsklinikum Aachen (UKA) DE Germany (DE) Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen DE Germany (DE) NTNU Trondheim - Norwegian University of Science and Technology NO Norway (NO) Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Ries, A., Trottenberg, P., Elsner, F., Stiel, S., Haugen, D., Kaasa, S., & Radbruch, L. (2012). A systematic review on the role of fish oil for the treatment of cachexia in advanced cancer: An EPCRC cachexia guidelines project. Palliative Medicine, 26(4), 294-304. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216311418709

MLA:

Ries, Anke, et al. "A systematic review on the role of fish oil for the treatment of cachexia in advanced cancer: An EPCRC cachexia guidelines project." Palliative Medicine 26.4 (2012): 294-304.

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