Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements on Cancer-related Fatigue in an Outpatient Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Fatigue, as one of the most common side effects of cancer and its associated treatments, induces a distressing, persistent, and inward feeling. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of the omega-3 supplement as an unconfirmed effect on conventional ginseng treatment with a possible effect on this side effect in cancer patients.

This clinical trial was conducted in 2018 on 70 cancer patients referring to outpatient clinics affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Patients were included in the study by the convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into control and intervention groups. Patients in the treatment group received an omega-3 supplement and usual treatment. For patients in the control group, only the usual intervention was administered. Data were collected using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory questionnaire. The duration of intervention was 6 weeks. The primary outcome was the improvement of fatigue scores measured by the questionnaire.

There was a significant difference in both groups concerning the mean total fatigue score in three times; i.e., 0, 3, and 6 weeks after the intervention (P <0.001). Mean value of total fatigue score at the beginning of the study was 77.8±6.6 in the intervention group and 76.8±9.7 in the control group. After 3 weeks of the study, it was 49.2±6.8 and 57.5±9.5 and after 6 weeks it was 25.3±7.8 and 37.2±8.4 in the intervention group and in the control group, respectively.

This study revealed that omega-3 supplement can reduce cancerrelated fatigue in outpatient cancer patients compared with the control group.