[alpha]-Linolenic Fatty Acid Supplementation Decreases Tumor Growth and Cachexia Parameters in Walker 256 Tumor-Bearing Rats

• Published in: Nutrition and cancer Vol. 67; no. 5; p. 839
• Main Authors: Schiessel, Dalton Luiz, Yamazaki, Ricardo K, Kryczyk, Marcelo, Coelho, Isabela, Yamaguchi, Adriana A, Pequito, Daniele C T, Brito, Gleisson A P, Borghetti, Gina, Fernandes, Luiz C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mahwah Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Dietary supplements; Fatty acids; Fish oils; Rodents; Tumors
• ISSN: 0163-5581

Fish oil (FO) has been shown to affect cancer cachexia, tumor mass, and immunity cell. n-3 PUFA, specifically α-linolenic fatty acid (ALA), has controversial effects. We investigated this in nontumor-bearing Wistar rats fed regular chow (C), fed regular chow and supplemented with FO or Oro Inca oil (OI), and Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats fed regular chow (W), fed regular chow and supplemented with FO (WFO) or OI (WOI). Rats were supplemented (1g/kg body weight/day) during 4 wk and then the groups tumor-bearing were inoculated with Walker 256 tumor cells suspension and 14 days later the animals were killed. WFO increased EPA fivefold and DHA 1.5-fold in the tumor tissue compared to W (P < 0.05). OI supplementation increased of threefold of ALA when compared to W (P < 0.05). Tumor mass in WFO and OI was of 2.3-fold lower, as well as tumor cell proliferation of 3.0-fold tumor tissue lipoperoxidation increased of 76.6% and co&2 expression was 20% lower. Cachexia parameters were attenuate, blood glucose (25% higher), Triacylglycerolemia (50% lower), and plasma TNF-α (65% lower; P < 0.05) and IL-6 (62.5% lower). OI, rich in ALA, caused the same effect on cancer as those seen in FO.