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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 2/2010

01-02-2010 | Original Article

Marine phospholipids—a promising new dietary approach to tumor-associated weight loss

Authors: Lenka A. Taylor, Lars Pletschen, Jann Arends, Clemens Unger, Ulrich Massing

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 2/2010

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Abstract

Goals of work

Advanced tumor disease very often evokes excessive loss of body weight. Among others, fish oil or marine fatty acid ethyl esters were investigated for treatment of cancer cachexia with controversial results. In this study, a new formulation of marine fatty acids was investigated, the marine phospholipids, with more than 50% of phospholipid-bound fatty acids being eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid.

Materials and methods

Thirty-one tumor patients with various tumor entities suffering from weight loss were asked to take marine phospholipids (1.5 g/day) as softgel capsules for a period of 6 weeks. Compliance, body weight, appetite, and quality of life as well as the fatty acid profile in plasma and blood cells were monitored; 17 patients could be analyzed.

Main results

Marine phospholipids were very well accepted; low-dose supplementation resulted in a significant increase of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid in plasma phospholipids; therefore, significantly reducing the n − 6 to n − 3 fatty acid ratio. A stabilization of body weight was achieved (median weight change of +0.6% after 6 weeks), while appetite and quality of life improved.

Conclusions

These promising first results encourage further investigation of marine phospholipids in cancer care.
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Metadata
Title
Marine phospholipids—a promising new dietary approach to tumor-associated weight loss
Authors
Lenka A. Taylor
Lars Pletschen
Jann Arends
Clemens Unger
Ulrich Massing
Publication date
01-02-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0640-4

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