Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a fish oil (FO) diet (rich in long chain, n-3, polyunsaturated fatty acid) on cancer cachexia symptoms in rats. To this end, peritoneal carcinosis (PC) was generated by an intraperitoneal injection of cancer cells in BDIX rats fed FO or standard (Std) diets. Food intake and body weight were recorded throughout the study until sacrifice. PC rats were sacrificed when food intake was significantly and severely reduced. Fat and skeletal muscles masses were weighed and serum inflammatory cytokines concentration measured at sacrifice. Occurrence of anorexia in PC rats was delayed in the FO diet group (median time was multiplied by 2.5) in comparison with Std diet. At the time of sacrifice, PC rats displayed a lower body weight gain as well as lower muscle and fat masses than pair-fed rats, suggesting the presence of a hypermetabolism state. Serum TNF-α was significantly increased in PC rats compared with controls rats. There was no effect of FO diet on tissue mass (skeletal muscle and fat) or on TNF-alpha concentration. In conclusion, FO diet delays the appearance of anorexia induced by PC in rats.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The rat colon adenocarcinoma cell line, PROb, was kindly provided by Professor F. Martin (INSERM U252, Dijon, France). The authors thank Barbara Girard for her precious help in fatty acid analysis and Jerôme Montharu and all the staff of the animal facilities in the University medical school for their help in animal care. J. F. Dumas was supported by a grant from “Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer (comité d’Indre-et-Loire).” This work was supported by grants from “Conseil Régional de la Région Centre/Canceropole Grand-Ouest,” France.