omega-3 fatty acid in advanced pancreatic cancer From HSI

[Guest guest]

Quality of life

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Researchers at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh created a

study to examine the effects of omega-3 fatty acid

supplements on weight, lean body mass, dietary intake, and

general quality of life in advanced pancreatic cancer

patients with symptoms of cachexia.

 

200 patients were divided into two groups; 95 received a

daily high-calorie/high-protein supplement, enriched with

vitamins C and E, and about 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids,

and 105 received a similar supplement that didn't include the

additional vitamins or fatty acids.

 

At the beginning of the study, subjects were losing an

average of approximately 7 pounds per month. But over the 8-

week period of the study, subjects in both groups stopped

losing weight. When researchers conducted a specific analysis

of dose-response relationships, they found that the omega-3

group showed significantly higher rate of weight gain, as

well as increased lean body mass compared to the other group.

Furthermore, weight gain was associated with improved quality

of life only in the omega-3 group.

 

Exactly how the enriched supplement created greater benefits

over the other supplement isn't known. Nor is it clear that

this sort of supplement might have the same effect on

patients suffering from cachexia due to other types of

cancers or diseases. Nevertheless, the Edinburgh team

concluded that supplements enriched with omega-3 fatty acids

from fish oils apparently have positive effects on cachexia

symptoms; especially those of weight loss and diminished

quality of life.

 

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Fish vs. fish oil

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By now, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are familiar to

most HSI members. In the e-Alert " Fish in Fashion " (4/10/02)

I told you about two studies that demonstrated how omega-3

fatty acids found in fish oil can significantly improve

cardiovascular health and cut your risk of heart attack in

half. And two other studies were examined in " Omega Delta

Blues " (10/28/02), revealing how omega-3 supplements may

reduce depression.

 

Although dietary sources like walnuts and flaxseed deliver

good amounts of omega-3, only fish contain both

eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docohexaenoic acid (DHA).

When combined, these two fatty acids have been shown to help

prevent Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, influenza,

hyperactivity, and even some forms of cancer, in addition to

the benefits mentioned above. The drawback with fish,

however, is the mercury content present in exactly the types

of fish that contain the highest concentration of omega-3:

dark meat fish such as tuna, swordfish, and salmon.

 

Fortunately, fish oil supplements don't contain mercury. As

an HSI member named Lance told us in the e-Alert " Gone

Fishing " (11/13/02), " I've seen independent lab reports on 30-

40 different fish oil products. From the cheapest to the most

expensive, none of the products contained detectable levels

of impurities. That's probably because most of the fish oil

caps sold in this country come from sardines and anchovies

caught off the coast of South America. Still... if you want to

make absolutely sure there are no toxic contaminants in your

fish oil caps, you must ensure they are 'molecularly

distilled.' "

 

For many years, osteopathic physician Dr. Joseph Mercola has

recommended fish oil and cod liver oil as the best sources of

omega-3 EPA/DHA. Dr. Mercola suggests that because of cod

liver oil's high vitamin D content, it should be taken during

the autumn and winter months, and in northern and southern

latitudes where the body's vitamin D production from sunshine

is diminished. During the summer, or for those who live near

the equator, Dr. Mercola recommends fish oil supplements in

order to avoid an excess of vitamin D, which can boost

calcium to levels that may cause damage to bones, kidneys,

and soft tissues.

 

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The essential

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Hopefully neither you nor your loved ones will ever need to

be concerned with the disabilities associated with cachexia.

But as we read more and more studies about the wide-ranging

benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, it's clear that this

remarkable nutrient provides excellent preventive and

therapeutic qualities for cancer patients as well as those

who are healthy.

 

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Credit to " Health Sciences Institute e-Alert "

 

 

 

Best Regards,

 

Lorenzo

 

 

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