Beneficial immune modulatory effects of a specific nutritional combination in a murine model for cancer cachexia

The majority of patients with advanced cancer are recognised by impaired immune competence influenced by several factors, including the type and stage of the tumour and the presence of cachexia. Recently, a specific nutritional combination containing fish oil, specific oligosaccharide mixture, high protein content and leucine has been developed aimed to support the immune system of cancer patients in order to reduce the frequency and severity of (infectious) complications. In a recently modified animal model cachexia is induced by inoculation of C26 tumour cells in mice. In a pre-cachectic state, no effect was observed on contact hypersensitivity, a validated in vivo method to measure Th1-mediated immune function, after adding the individual nutritional ingredients to the diet of tumour-bearing mice. However, the complete mixture resulted in significantly improved Th1 immunity. Moreover, in a cachectic state, the complete mixture reduced plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and beneficially affected ex vivo immune function. Accordingly, the combination of the nutritional ingredients is required to obtain a synergistic effect, leading to a reduced inflammatory state and improved immune competence. From this, it can be concluded that the specific nutritional combination has potential as immune-supporting nutritional intervention to reduce the risk of (infectious) complications in cancer patients

Effect of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake on the eicosanoid profile in individuals with obesity and overweight : a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present beneficial effects on counteracting inflammation status, displaying a critical anti-inflammatory role and maintaining physiological homeostasis in obesity. The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of n-3 PUFAs intake on the eicosanoid profile of people with obesity and overweight. The search strategy on Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and ProQuest was undertaken until November 2019 and updated January 2021. The effect size of n-3 PUFAs on prostaglandins was estimated by Glass's, type 1 in a random-effect model for the meta-analysis. Seven clinical trials met the eligible criteria and a total of 610 subjects were included in this systematic review, and four of seven studies were included in meta-analysis. The intake of n-3 PUFAs promoted an overall reduction in serum pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. Additionally, n-3 PUFAs intake significantly decreased the arachidonic acid COX-derived PG eicosanoid group levels (Glass's Δ −0⋅35; CI −0⋅62, −0⋅07, I2 31⋅48). Subgroup analyses showed a higher effect on periods up to 8 weeks (Glass's Δ −0⋅51; CI −0⋅76, −0⋅27) and doses higher than 0⋅5 g of n-3 PUFAs (Glass's Δ −0⋅46; CI −0⋅72, −0⋅27). Dietary n-3 PUFAs intake contributes to reduce pro-inflammatory eicosanoids of people with obesity and overweight. Subgroup's analysis showed that n-3 PUFAs can reduce the overall arachidonic acid COX-derived PG when adequate dose and period are matched

Fish oil alters T-lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage responses in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of the dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from postweaning until adulthood on T-lymphocyte proliferation, T-lymphocyte subpopulations (helper and cytotoxic), and production of cytotoxic mediators by macrophages in tumor-bearing rodents. METHODS: Weanling male Wistar rats received a normal low-fat (40 g/kg of diet) chow diet or a high-fat (300 g /kg) diet that included fish or sunflower oil or blends of fish and sunflower oils to yield omega-6:omega-3 PUFA ratios of approximately 6:1, 30:1, and 60:1 ad libitum. After 8 wk, 50% of rats in each group were inoculated with 1 mL of 2 x 10(7) Walker 256 cells. Fourteen days after tumor inoculation, animals were killed and lymphocytes and macrophages were obtained for study. RESULTS: The diets richest in omega-6 PUFA resulted in higher proliferation of thymus, spleen, and gut-associated lymphocytes compared with the chow diet irrespective of tumor burden. In contrast, the fish oil diet resulted in lower proliferation of thymus and spleen lymphocytes compared with the chow diet. Diets rich in omega-6 PUFA decreased the proportion of CD8+ lymphocytes. In non-tumor-bearing and tumor-bearing rats, hydrogen peroxide production by macrophages was highest in rats that consumed diets high in omega-3 PUFAs. Superoxide and nitric oxide production were little affected by the dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 PUFAs. CONCLUSION: Dietary omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA contents alter immune function in non-tumor-bearing and tumor-bearing rats. The omega-3 PUFAs decreased T-cell proliferation but increased hydrogen peroxide production compared with omega-6 PUFAs. Decreased tumor growth and cachexia and increased survival previously reported for fish oil in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats may be related to improved macrophage function rather than to improved T-cell functio