> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Fish oil helps colorectal cancer patients - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/fish_oil_helps_colorectal_cancer_0911120619/ - Published: 2012-09-11T19:18:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T16:05:09.000Z - Description: In a small trial, 23 colorectal cancer patients on chemotherapy took either 2 grams of fish oil daily or a placebo for nine weeks. The supplemented group held its weight and body mass index and improved its C-reactive protein to albumin ratio. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import By David Liu, PHD Tuesday Sept 11, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- Colorectal cancer patients like patients with many other types of malignancies experience a great deal of inflammation and oxidative stress induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy or the disease itself. A new study in Nutrition and Cancer suggests that taking a moderate amount of fish oil each day during chemotherapy can improve their nutritional status indicators. It is a suggestion because the trial study is small. Juliana de Aguiar Pastore Silvaa of Departamet of Nutrition, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil and colleagues conducted the study and found colorectal cancer patients taking 2 grams of fish oil per day during chemotherapy maintained baseline weight and improved the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio, which are desirable. The clinical trial involved 23 patients with colorectal cancer in two groups were assigned to taking either a placebo or 2 grams of fish oil containing 600 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for 9 weeks during which all patients were using chemotherapy. Nutritional and inflammatory biomarker status was assessed both at baseline and 9 weeks of chemotherapy in both the fish oil supplemented group and the control group. Both groups had similar nutritional profiles at baseline. At 9 weeks of chemotherapy, the fish oil supplemented group maintained body mass index and did not experience weight loss whereas those in the control groups changed body mass index and body weight. Additionally, colorectal cancer patients supplemented with fish oil experienced a clinically relevant decrease in the C-reactive protein/albumin relation. The researchers concluded "low doses of the fish oil supplement can positively modulate the nutritional status and the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio." The disease is expected to be diagnosed in about 143,500 Americans in 2012 and 51,690 will die in 2012 from the disease and its complications, according to the National Cancer Institute. Colorectal cancer symptoms include diarrhea or constipation, feeling that defecation is incomplete, blood in the stool, stools are narrower than usual, frequent gas pains or cramps, or feeling full or bloated, weight loss with no known reason, tiredness and nausea or vomiting. Colorectal cancer in many cases is preventable. What may help prevent colorectal cancer, according to previous studies include dietary fiber, green tea, vitamin d, walnuts, flaxseed, yogurt, cocoa, fruit and vegetables, tofu, and garlic among other things. Fish oil is known to provide antioxidative effect and it is believed to be beneficial for cancer patiens. What can increase risk for colorectal cancer include tobacco use, carcinogens in cooked meat, obesity, diabetes mellitus, red meat, processed meat, prostate cancer treatment, high fat diet, intake of too much calories, folic acid, physical inactivity, and dietary cholesterol among other risk factors.