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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Main Authors: Raquel D. S. Freitas, Maria M. Campos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
Series:Nutrients
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/5/945
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spelling 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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