Anorexia-cachexia syndrome: a systematic review of the role of dietary polyunsaturated Fatty acids in the management of symptoms, survival, and quality of life

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#anorexia #cachexia #dietary-fats #eicosapentaenoic-acid #fatty-acids-unsaturated

Anorexia-cachexia syndrome: a systematic review of the role of dietary polyunsaturated Fatty acids in the management of symptoms, survival, and quality of life

Mazzotta et al., 2009 | J Pain Symptom Manage | Meta Analysis

Citation

Mazzotta Paolo, Jeney Christa M. Anorexia-cachexia syndrome: a systematic review of the role of dietary polyunsaturated Fatty acids in the management of symptoms, survival, and quality of life. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2009-Jun;37(6):1069-77. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2008.06.005

Abstract

To provide a systematic review on the clinical utility of anti-inflammatory polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in cancer-associated anorexia-cachexia syndrome (ACS), clinical trials involving eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for the management of ACS were identified in the medical literature using MEDLINE (1966 to October 2006) and EMBASE (1980 to October 2006). Review Manager 4.1 was used to compare trials based on outcome measures of interest, including weight change, lean muscle mass change, survival, and quality of life (QoL). Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified. Various outcome measures were used in each study. Variability in study populations, dose of EPA and DHA, and standardized scales did not allow for analysis using Review Manager 4.1. Therefore, trials were summarized based on their individual outcomes. Except for one trial showing a positive effect on weight, none of the trials found a clinically or statistically significant difference in outcome measures reviewed. EPA and DHA alone have not shown significant clinical effect in altering weight, lean muscle mass, survival, or QoL in patients with ACS associated with cancer.

Key Findings

EPA and DHA alone have not shown significant clinical effect in altering weight, lean muscle mass, survival, or QoL in patients with ACS associated with cancer.

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population acs associated with cancer
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Anorexia
  • Cachexia
  • Dietary Fats
  • Eicosapentaenoic Acid
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Humans
  • Karnofsky Performance Status
  • Neoplasms
  • Quality of Life
  • Survival
  • Syndrome

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: omega-3

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09