• Mariah Azevedo Aredes, Alex Oliveira da Camara, Nathália Silva de Paula, Karla Yasmin Dias Fraga, do Carmo Maria das Graças Tavares MDGT Institute of Nutrition Josué de Castro of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro J, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil., and Gabriela Villaça Chaves.
• National Cancer Institute José Alencar Gomes da Silva, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
• Nutrition. 2019 Nov 1; 67-68: 110528.

ObjectivesSupplementation with ω-3 has been shown to favor the preservation of body weight and skeletal muscle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ω-3 supplementation on nutritional status, skeletal muscle quantity and quality, and toxicity for treatment of women with cervical cancer.MethodsThis was a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial in women diagnosed with cervical cancer who underwent chemoradiotherapy between March 2016 and August 2017. The intervention group received four capsules with ω-3 (2.5 g/d) and the control group (CG) received the same number of identical-looking capsules with olive oil, for 45 d. Nutritional status was measured by anthropometry and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment. Body composition was assessed by computed tomography. The skeletal muscle index was calculated using the range -29 to +150 HU. For skeletal muscle quality, the area comprised between -29 and +29 HU was denominated low-radiodensity skeletal muscle index and the range between +30 and +150 HU high-radiodensity skeletal muscle index, representing the skeletal muscle area with high or low intramuscular fat infiltration, respectively.ResultsThe study population comprised 40 patients, with an average age 44.53 ± 8.73. The intervention group maintained body weight and showed an improvement in Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment score. A significant reduction in skeletal muscle index was observed in both groups. However, in regard to skeletal muscle quality, patients in the intervention group preserved low- and high-radiodensity skeletal muscle index, whereas those in the control group had increased low-radiodensity skeletal muscle index and significantly reduced high-radiodensity skeletal muscle index, reflecting high intramuscular fat infiltration only in the control group. The incidence of chemotherapy toxicity was significantly lower in the intervention group.ConclusionsThe results suggest that ω-3 supplementation is effective in maintaining nutritional status, skeletal muscle quality, and reduced symptoms of chemoradiotherapy among women with cervical cancer.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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