Reduced total energy expenditure and physical activity in cachectic patients with pancreatic cancer can be modulated by an energy and protein dense oral supplement enriched with n-3 fatty acids.

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Eicosapentaenoic Acid, published as a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of the study was to assess the total energy expenditure (TEE), resting energy expenditure (REE) and physical activity level (PAL) in home-living cachectic patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Why It Was Studied

The influence of an energy and protein dense oral supplement either enriched with or without the n-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and administered over an 8-week period was also determined.

Measurements were repeated at 8 weeks.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 24 patients were involved.

PubMed indexes the participants as older adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Eicosapentaenoic Acid and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

The total energy expenditure was measured using doubly labelled water and REE determined by indirect calorimetry.

What Was Measured

Measurements were repeated at 8 weeks.

The subject headings attached to it are Body Composition, Cachexia, Dietary Fats, Dietary Proteins, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Energy Intake and Energy Metabolism.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized study of Eicosapentaenoic Acid in 24 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2004 (British journal of cancer), a journal based in England.

More context: all human trials.