Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related Complications
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered immunonutrients and are commonly used in the nutritional therapy of cancer patients due to their ample biological effects. Omega-3 PUFAs play essential roles in cell signaling and in the cell structure and fluidity of membranes. They partici...
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doaj-3a97a807e41a4a0e9f64e0acb7a43b662020-11-25T01:33:55ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432019-04-0111594510.3390/nu11050945nu11050945Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related ComplicationsRaquel D. S. Freitas0Maria M. Campos1Centro de Pesquisa em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde, PUCRS, Porto Alegre 90619-900, RS, BrazilCentro de Pesquisa em Toxicologia e Farmacologia, Escola de Ciências da Saúde, PUCRS, Porto Alegre 90619-900, RS, BrazilOmega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered immunonutrients and are commonly used in the nutritional therapy of cancer patients due to their ample biological effects. Omega-3 PUFAs play essential roles in cell signaling and in the cell structure and fluidity of membranes. They participate in the resolution of inflammation and have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. Additionally, they can act as agonists of G protein-coupled receptors, namely, GPR40/FFA1 and GPR120/FFA4. Cancer patients undergo complications, such as anorexia-cachexia syndrome, pain, depression, and paraneoplastic syndromes. Interestingly, the 2017 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) guidelines for cancer patients only discuss the use of omega-3 PUFAs for cancer-cachexia treatment, leaving aside other cancer-related complications that could potentially be managed by omega-3 PUFA supplementation. This critical review aimed to discuss the effects and the possible underlying mechanisms of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in cancer-related complications. Data compilation in this critical review indicates that further investigation is still required to assess the factual benefits of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in cancer-associated illnesses. Nevertheless, preclinical evidence reveals that omega-3 PUFAs and their metabolites might modulate pivotal pathways underlying complications secondary to cancer, indicating that this is a promising field of knowledge to be explored.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/5/945omega-3cancernutritionanorexia-cachexia syndromepaindepressionparaneoplastic syndromes |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Raquel D. S. Freitas Maria M. Campos |
spellingShingle |
Raquel D. S. Freitas Maria M. Campos Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related Complications Nutrients omega-3 cancer nutrition anorexia-cachexia syndrome pain depression paraneoplastic syndromes |
author_facet |
Raquel D. S. Freitas Maria M. Campos |
author_sort |
Raquel D. S. Freitas |
title |
Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related Complications |
title_short |
Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related Complications |
title_full |
Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related Complications |
title_fullStr |
Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related Complications |
title_full_unstemmed |
Protective Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Cancer-Related Complications |
title_sort |
protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids in cancer-related complications |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Nutrients |
issn |
2072-6643 |
publishDate |
2019-04-01 |
description |
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are considered immunonutrients and are commonly used in the nutritional therapy of cancer patients due to their ample biological effects. Omega-3 PUFAs play essential roles in cell signaling and in the cell structure and fluidity of membranes. They participate in the resolution of inflammation and have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. Additionally, they can act as agonists of G protein-coupled receptors, namely, GPR40/FFA1 and GPR120/FFA4. Cancer patients undergo complications, such as anorexia-cachexia syndrome, pain, depression, and paraneoplastic syndromes. Interestingly, the 2017 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) guidelines for cancer patients only discuss the use of omega-3 PUFAs for cancer-cachexia treatment, leaving aside other cancer-related complications that could potentially be managed by omega-3 PUFA supplementation. This critical review aimed to discuss the effects and the possible underlying mechanisms of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in cancer-related complications. Data compilation in this critical review indicates that further investigation is still required to assess the factual benefits of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in cancer-associated illnesses. Nevertheless, preclinical evidence reveals that omega-3 PUFAs and their metabolites might modulate pivotal pathways underlying complications secondary to cancer, indicating that this is a promising field of knowledge to be explored. |
topic |
omega-3 cancer nutrition anorexia-cachexia syndrome pain depression paraneoplastic syndromes |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/5/945 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT raqueldsfreitas protectiveeffectsofomega3fattyacidsincancerrelatedcomplications AT mariamcampos protectiveeffectsofomega3fattyacidsincancerrelatedcomplications |
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