Meta-analysis of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on immune functions and nutritional status of patients with colorectal cancer

Study answer

What this study found

Omega-3 PUFA supplementation was associated with improved immune function and nutritional status after radical colorectal cancer surgery. Pooled effects favored omega-3 PUFAs for IgA (SMD = 0.54; 95% CI 0.10-0.99), IgM (SMD = 0.52; 95% CI 0.05-0.99), CD4+ (SMD = 0.76; 95% CI 0.53-0.98), CD4+/CD8+ (SMD = 0.66; 95% CI 0.39-0.92), total protein (SMD = 0.53; 95% CI 0.17-0.88), albumin (SMD = 0.43; 95% CI 0.15-0.70), and prealbumin (SMD = 0.46; 95% CI 0.01-0.90). The review concluded that omega-3 PUFAs may be an effective immunonutritional therapy in this setting, although the evidence quality…

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 20 randomized controlled trials in postoperative colorectal cancer patients after radical surgery.

Intervention

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were evaluated as postoperative immunonutrition in patients with colorectal cancer after radical surgery.

Key limitation

Evidence quality was generally low to moderate because of methodological heterogeneity and potential bias across trials.

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Original abstract