The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Randomized clinical trial of perioperative omega-3 fatty acid supplements in elective colorectal cancer surgery

Randomized clinical trial of perioperative omega-3 fatty acid supplements in elective colorectal cancer surgery
Randomized clinical trial of perioperative omega-3 fatty acid supplements in elective colorectal cancer surgery
BACKGROUND: Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) may have beneficial clinical effects, and n-3 FA supplements may improve outcome after surgery.

METHODS: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in single centre, patients referred for elective colorectal cancer surgery received either an n-3 FA-enriched oral nutritional supplement (ONS) (Supportan®, 200 ml twice daily) providing 2·0 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1·0 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day, or a standard isocaloric and isonitrogenous ONS, for 7 days before and 7 days after surgery. The primary endpoint was infectious and non-infectious complications within 30 days of surgery. Secondary endpoints were length of hospital stay, intensive care unit admission, readmissions, and concentrations of marine n-3 FAs and arachidonic acid in granulocyte membranes.

RESULTS: Some 148 consecutive patients (68 women, 80 men; mean age 71 (range 41-89) years) were randomized. There was no significant difference between groups in infectious or non-infectious postoperative complications (P = 1·000). Granulocyte levels of EPA, DHA and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) were significantly higher in the n-3 FA-enriched supplement group compared with the control group (P < 0·001). The arachidonic acid level in granulocytes was significantly lower in the enriched group than in the control group (P < 0·001).

CONCLUSION: EPA, DHA and DPA were incorporated into granulocytes in patients receiving n-3 FAs, but this was not associated with improved postoperative outcomes.
33-42
Sorensen, L.S.
19ec5f08-4030-481a-9720-b463b492c739
Thorlacius-Ussing, O.
01324bcb-7710-4b1d-bdd6-11691df706ba
Schmidt, E.B.
4874f79f-b771-46da-917a-8d8a8c912176
Rasmussen, H.H.
ce22c561-0d29-469e-86d4-0b5997eae4d6
Lundbye-Christensen, S.
57f72bf2-faf8-4892-95ed-f7d18d67330f
Calder, P.C.
1797e54f-378e-4dcb-80a4-3e30018f07a6
Lindorff-Larsen, K.
5d244713-731d-4bd7-8860-5006a71d5464
Sorensen, L.S.
19ec5f08-4030-481a-9720-b463b492c739
Thorlacius-Ussing, O.
01324bcb-7710-4b1d-bdd6-11691df706ba
Schmidt, E.B.
4874f79f-b771-46da-917a-8d8a8c912176
Rasmussen, H.H.
ce22c561-0d29-469e-86d4-0b5997eae4d6
Lundbye-Christensen, S.
57f72bf2-faf8-4892-95ed-f7d18d67330f
Calder, P.C.
1797e54f-378e-4dcb-80a4-3e30018f07a6
Lindorff-Larsen, K.
5d244713-731d-4bd7-8860-5006a71d5464

Sorensen, L.S., Thorlacius-Ussing, O., Schmidt, E.B., Rasmussen, H.H., Lundbye-Christensen, S., Calder, P.C. and Lindorff-Larsen, K. (2014) Randomized clinical trial of perioperative omega-3 fatty acid supplements in elective colorectal cancer surgery. British Journal of Surgery, 101 (2), 33-42. (doi:10.1002/bjs.9361). (PMID:24281905)

Record type: Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) may have beneficial clinical effects, and n-3 FA supplements may improve outcome after surgery.

METHODS: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in single centre, patients referred for elective colorectal cancer surgery received either an n-3 FA-enriched oral nutritional supplement (ONS) (Supportan®, 200 ml twice daily) providing 2·0 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 1·0 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per day, or a standard isocaloric and isonitrogenous ONS, for 7 days before and 7 days after surgery. The primary endpoint was infectious and non-infectious complications within 30 days of surgery. Secondary endpoints were length of hospital stay, intensive care unit admission, readmissions, and concentrations of marine n-3 FAs and arachidonic acid in granulocyte membranes.

RESULTS: Some 148 consecutive patients (68 women, 80 men; mean age 71 (range 41-89) years) were randomized. There was no significant difference between groups in infectious or non-infectious postoperative complications (P = 1·000). Granulocyte levels of EPA, DHA and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) were significantly higher in the n-3 FA-enriched supplement group compared with the control group (P < 0·001). The arachidonic acid level in granulocytes was significantly lower in the enriched group than in the control group (P < 0·001).

CONCLUSION: EPA, DHA and DPA were incorporated into granulocytes in patients receiving n-3 FAs, but this was not associated with improved postoperative outcomes.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 26 November 2013
Published date: January 2014
Organisations: Human Development & Health

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 361816
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/361816
PURE UUID: f863e975-eda3-4077-8a9e-300b714aa0df
ORCID for P.C. Calder: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6038-710X

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 04 Feb 2014 11:18
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:50

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: L.S. Sorensen
Author: O. Thorlacius-Ussing
Author: E.B. Schmidt
Author: H.H. Rasmussen
Author: S. Lundbye-Christensen
Author: P.C. Calder ORCID iD
Author: K. Lindorff-Larsen

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×