Plasma and neutrophil fatty acid composition in advanced cancer patients and response to fish oil supplementation V C Pratt1, S Watanabe2, E Bruera3, J Mackey4, M T Clandinin1, V E Baracos1 and C J Field1 1Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Alberta, 410 Ag/Forestry Center, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2P5 Canada 2Department of Oncology, Division of Palliative Care Medicine, University of Alberta, c/o Grey Nuns Community Hospital 1100 Youville Drive West Room 4324, Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6L 5X8 3Department of Symptom Control and Palliative Care, Houston, Texas, USA, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Box 8 Houston, Texas 77030 USA 4Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Cross Cancer Institute - 11560 University Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2 Canada Correspondence to: V E Baracos, E-mail: vickie.baracos@ualberta.ca Abstract Metabolic demand and altered supply of essential nutrients is poorly characterised in patients with advanced cancer. A possible imbalance or deficiency of essential fatty acids is suggested by reported beneficial effects of fish oil supplementation. To assess fatty acid status (composition of plasma and neutrophil phospholipids) in advanced cancer patients before and after 14 days of supplementation (12±1 g day-1) with fish (eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid) or placebo (olive) oil. Blood was drawn from cancer patients experiencing weight loss of >5% body weight (n=23). Fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids and the major phospholipid classes of isolated neutrophils were determined using gas liquid chromatography. At baseline, patients with advanced cancer exhibited low levels (<30% of normal values) of plasma phospholipids and constituent fatty acids and elevated 20 : 4 n-6 content in neutrophil phospholipids. High n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios in neutrophil and plasma phospholipids were inversely related to body mass index. Fish oil supplementation raised eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid content in plasma but not neutrophil phospholipids. 20 : 4 n-6 content was reduced in neutrophil PI following supplementation with fish oil. Change in body weight during the supplementation period related directly to increases in eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma. Advanced cancer patients have alterations in lipid metabolism potentially due to nutritional status and/or chemotherapy. Potential obstacles in fatty acid utilisation must be addressed in future trials aiming to improve outcomes using nutritional intervention with fish oils. British Journal of Cancer (2002) 87, 1370-1378. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.