Effect of fish oil supplementation for two generations on changes of lymphocyte function induced by Walker 256 cancer cachexia in rats.

Fish oil supplementation has been shown to improve the cachectic state of tumor-bearing animals and humans. Our previous study showed that fish oil supplementation (1 g per kg body weight per day) for 2 generations had anticancer and anticachetic effects in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats as demonstrated by reduced tumor growth and body weight loss and increased food intake and survival. In this study, the effect of fish oil supplementation for 2 generations on membrane integrity, proliferation capacity, and CD4/CD8 ratio of lymphocytes isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus of Walker 256 tumor-bearing animals was investigated.

Lifelong exposure to dietary fish oil alters macrophage responses in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats.

Supplementation of the diet with fish oil (FO) decreases growth of the Walker 256 tumor and decreases the cachexia associated with tumor-bearing. The mechanisms by which FO inhibits tumor growth and cachexia are unknown. Macrophages are very important in host defence against tumors since they produce several anti-tumor agents which in turn have been shown to be modified by dietary FO, but rarely in the setting of tumor bearing and never in relation to lifelong exposure.