Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 10, 2026
13:05
Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids
Published on: June 28, 2019
8.6K
Re-evaluating omega-3 (EPA/DHA) in cancer prevention and management.
Alessio Molfino1,2, Maurizio Muscaritoli2, Federica Tambaro2
1Department of Interdisciplinary Studies on WellBeing, Health and Environmental Sustainability (BeSSA).
Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care
|November 28, 2025
Summary
Omega-3 fatty acids show promise in cancer prevention and managing cachexia. While eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is linked to reduced colorectal cancer risk, benefits for other outcomes require further research.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nutritional Science
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential fats with potential roles in cancer. Emerging evidence highlights their impact on various aspects of cancer care.
- Understanding the specific roles of different omega-3s, like EPA and DHA, is crucial for targeted applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent evidence on omega-3 PUFAs in oncology.
- Focus areas include cancer prevention, cachexia, treatment toxicities, and therapeutic response.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent epidemiological, biomarker, and clinical studies.
- Analysis of data on omega-3 fatty acids, cancer risk, cachexia management, and treatment side effects.
Main Results:
- Consistent inverse association between EPA and colorectal cancer risk; DHA evidence is less clear.
- Omega-3 rich diets (Mediterranean, MIND) are linked to reduced cancer risk.
- Supplementation shows benefits in cancer cachexia (body weight, inflammation, quality of life) but variable effects on lean mass.
- Promising reduction in oral mucositis; inconclusive results for neuropathy and chemosensitization due to study heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Omega-3 fatty acids have demonstrable biological and clinical effects in oncology.
- Benefits are context-dependent, requiring further investigation.
- Future research should standardize interventions, stratify patients, and integrate omega-3s into immunonutrition for precision oncology.
Keywords:
cancer risk and preventiondocosahexaenoic acideicosapentaenoic acidinflammationomega-3 fatty acidsMore Related Videos
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