Effects of Supplementation with Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids as an Adjuvant Therapy in the Treatment of Patients with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review Effect of omega-3 as adjuvant therapy
Abstract
Background: The association between Omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation and breast cancer (BC) prognosis has been shown to be positive, as it plays an important role in cancer treatment, reduces the side effects of therapies, and helps in the preservation of lean mass and weight control. This study aimed to analyze the effects of supplementation with n-3 PUFAs as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of patients with BC.
Methods: The following databases were searched electronically: Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The selection criteria were based on the topic's relevancy, which was mentioned as a certain stage of BC and the usage of n-3 PUFA. The first search yielded 62 papers in total; afterwards, 55 publications that didn't meet our eligibility requirements were removed, and eight articles were selected.
Results: Supplementation with n-3 PUFA varied from 1–4.3 g daily in the studies. By lowering the levels of Ki-67 and vascular endothelial growth factor, it was clear that adding n-3 PUFA to the BC treatment plan slowed the growth of tumors and made people live longer. The brief Pain Inventory and average pain in supplemented women found improvement in arthralgia in both groups in an American clinical trial.
Conclusion: Supplementing with n-3 PUFAs has been shown to help patients with BC in a number of ways, including as an antioxidant, by increasing the survival rate of patients, by reducing side effects, by improving the lipid profile, and by increasing the density of the breasts.
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