Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

Aim: To study the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure in prostate cancer patients who underwent prostatectomy.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-two prostate cancer patients whose PSA levels were less than 0.2 ng/ml 3 months after surgery were randomized to either an EPA group (n=32) or a control group (n=30). EPA (2.4 g/day) was administered in the EPA group for 2 years. PSA was measured every two months.

Results: The EPA concentration increased but the docosahexaenoic acid concentration decreased significantly (P<0.001) in erythrocytes. The PSA recurrence rates during a mean follow-up of 53.8 months were not different between the two groups (p=0.16).

Conclusion: A longer and/or larger intervention or docosahexaenoic acid supplementation might be necessary to identify significant preventive effects of mega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on PSA recurrence.