Omega-3 and Vitamin D Supplementation in Breast Cancer Women

Summary

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant disease, which is fifth leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Poor nutritional status is one of the common physical symptoms found among cancer patients, in which it is caused by both cancer disease state and its oncology treatment regimens used. Cancer patients develop a tumor-associated malnutrition characterized by an insufficient supply of macro- and micronutrients and systemic chemotherapy treatment that could significantly affecting the nutritional status of these patients by its side effects associated with chemotherapy that may lead to many medical complications that often requires hospitalization and death. An adequate nutritional intervention can have a beneficial impact on the disease condition and also the progress of the disease, as an integral part of adjuvant therapy on cancer care. Numerous studies had shown that the use of EPA and DHA are safe (absence of cardiotoxic effects) and effective in reducing the common chemotherapy-related side effects, such as bone density loss, peripheral neuropathy and weight gain. The question remains arises to whether administration of both vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids supplementations could be used as important nutritional strategy during the active oncology treatment in breast cancer patients. In Palestine, nutritional intervention strategies are poorly evaluated in the oncology setting especially among patients undergoing chemotherapy. Suitable and proper nutritional interventions among breast cancer patients during active oncology treatments could help to improve nutritional status, decrease mortality and improve quality of life among these subjects. Hence, the present study is formulated to assess the effect of combined omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D supplementation on the nutritional status, quality of life and blood inflammatory markers among breast cancer women undergoing chemotherapy treatment in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Timeline

Start

2022-04-20

Primary completion

2022-12-30

Completion

2023-03-31

Publications

• Almassri HF, Abdul Kadir A, Srour M, Foo LH. The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin D Supplementation on the Nutritional Status of Women with Breast Cancer in Palestine: An Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2024 Nov 20;16(22):3960. doi: 10.3390/nu16223960.
• Almassri HF, Abdul Kadir A, Srour M, Foo LH. The effects of Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D supplementation on the quality of life and blood inflammation markers in newly diagnosed breast cancer women: An open-labelled randomised controlled trial. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025 Feb;65:64-75. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.11.014. Epub 2024 Nov 20.

Drugs

Indications