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# Fish oil helps nonsmall cell lung cancer
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/fish_oil_helps_nonsmall_cell_lung_cancer_0309160731/
- Published: 2016-03-09T08:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:19:22.000Z
- Description: In a study in Cancer, advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who took 2.5 g of EPA plus DHA daily alongside chemotherapy had a 60% response rate against 26% for controls, and 60% one-year survival against 39%. The supplements appeared safe.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Supplements, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Wed. March 9, 2016 (foodconsumer.org) -- A study published in Cancer suggests taking fish oil supplements helps patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Nonsmall cell lung cancer responds to first line chemotherapy only in fewer than 30% cases although palliative chemotherapy is often applied to extend survival and relieve symptoms.

Lab studies indicate that fish oil supplementation increases the efficacy of chemotherapy. The current study found patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer who took fish oil supplements were more likely to survive for a year than those who received standard care. 

In the study, lung cancer patients either received fish oil with 2.5 g EPA plus DHA per day or a placebo for a year. All patients received chemotherapy (carboplatin with vinorelbine or gemcitabine). The response rate for chemotherapy and clinical benefits were measured and deaths were counted one year after enrollment.

The rate of response to chemotherapy in lung cancer patients in the fish oil group were 60% compared to 26% for the controls who did not receive fish oil. Likewise, the clinical benefits were greater in thr study group than the controls, 80.0% vs 41.9%. One-year survival was 60% in those receiving fish oil, compared to 39% in those receiving placebo.

The study showed fish oil supplements are safe to use for the lung cancer patients.

DHA, a long chain omega 3 fatty acid, which is found in marine algae and cold water fish oil was used to treat an older patient successfully, according to an early case report. The patient diagnosed with nonsmall cell lung cancer, male and about 75 years old, took up to 15 grams of DHA per day for months got rid of tumor mass in both the lungs. The patient did not use chemotherapy, but did use some other nutrients and avoided oils like corn oil.

Nonsmall cell lung cancer is one of the two major types of lung cancer diagnosed in the U.S. The lung cancer is diagnosed in more than 200,000 people in the U.S. each year and it affects both smokers and nonsmokers. People who acquire the disease show symptoms like persistent coughing, shortness of breath and weight loss. The disease is often found in people older than 60 years.

*Rachel A. Murphy BSc, Marina Mourtzakis PhD, Quincy S. C. Chu MD, Vickie E. Baracos PhD, Tony Reiman MD, SM andVera C. Mazurak PhD, Supplementation with fish oil increases first-line chemotherapy efficacy in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer, Cancer, Volume 117, Issue 16, pages 3774–3780, 15 August 2011*