N‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid, and the role of supplementation during cancer treatment: A scoping review of current clinical evidence

Abstract

This scoping review examines the evidence for n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid [LCPUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] supplementation in clinical cancer therapy. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify relevant clinical intervention studies conducted through August 2020. Fifty‐seven unique cancer trials, assessing EPA and/or DHA supplementation pre‐ or post‐treatment, concomitant with neoadjuvant chemo-therapy, radiation or surgery, or in palliative therapy were included. Breast, head and neck, gastro-intestinal, gastric, colorectal/rectal, esophageal, leukemia/lymphoma, lung, multiple myeloma and pancreatic cancers were investigated. Across the spectrum of cancers, the evidence suggests that supplementation increased or maintained body weight, increased progression‐free and overall sur-vival, improved overall quality of life, resulted in beneficial change in immune parameters and decreased serious adverse events. Taken together, the data support that EPA and/or DHA could be used to improve outcomes important to the patient and disease process. However, before incorporation into treatment can occur, there is a need for randomized clinical trials to determine the dose and type of n‐3 LCPUFA intervention required, and expansion of outcomes assessed and improved reporting of outcomes.