Associations between Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Patients with Digestive System Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Nutr Cancer. 2020;72(7):1098-1114. doi: 10.1080/01635581.2019.1669673. Epub 2019 Oct 1.

Abstract

Purpose: Patients with digestive system cancer frequently over-express inflammatory cytokines after surgical operations or chemotherapy. Omega-3 fatty acids are key nutrients with numerous beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in cancer patients. The anti-inflammatory effect of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in patients with digestive system cancer requires further validation.Methods: The meta-analysis includes studies that compared the variations in inflammatory marker (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and C-reactive protein (IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP)) concentrations between patients with digestive system cancer who were supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids versus controls who were not supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids.Results: Our findings indicated that the variations in the IL-6 and CRP concentrations in patients with digestive system cancer did not differ between the supplementation groups and the controls. Statistically significant differences in the variations in the TNF-α concentrations were observed between the supplementation groups and the controls. However, there were no significant differences in the variations in the TNF-α concentrations according to the subgroup analysis.Conclusions: Omega-3 fatty acids may have an inhibitory effect on postoperative TNF-α elevation in patients with digestive system tumors, but additional supporting data require a large clinical trial.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Digestive System Neoplasms / blood
  • Digestive System Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / blood
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Period
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Interleukin-6
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • C-Reactive Protein