Hashemipour, M.A., Barzegari, S., Kakoie, S., & Aghahi, R.H. (2017). Effects of omega-3 fatty acids against chemotherapy-induced mucositis: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Wounds, 29, 360–366. 

To evaluate the efficacy and route of administration of omega-3 fatty acids for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis.

Patients were randomized to omega-3 (two capsules daily with meals, each capsule contained 2,000 mg of fish oil plus EPA/DHA). The placebo contained corn oil with EPA/DHA.

• N = 30 control group, 30 in the omega 3-fatty acid intervention group  
• AGE: 22-63 years old
• MALES: 23 (38%)  
• FEMALES: 37 (62%)
• CURRENT TREATMENT: Chemotherapy
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Leukemia or breast cancer diagnosis 
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Patients were actively undergoing chemotherapy treatments with WHO grade I mucositis and were not to be treated with chemical agents.

• SITE: Single site   
• SETTING TYPE: Not specified    
• LOCATION: Kerman, Iran

• PHASE OF CARE: Active anti-tumor treatment
• APPLICATIONS: Elder care, palliative care

Double-blinded random control study

Mucositis was evaluated based on the WHO, Oral Mucositis Weekly Questionnaire (OMPQ), and Western Consortium for Cancer Nursing Research (WCCNR) criteria.

At 1 and 2 weeks, the severity of mucositis was lower in the omega-3 group compared with the control group and, after 2 weeks, there was no evidence of mucositis in the patients taking omega-3. Patients taking omega-3 compared with the placebo exhibited a better ability to eat, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.002). The average duration of mucositis in the omega-3 group was 5.5 days and in the placebo groups, 10-12 in the placebo group. The mean pain intensity scores during the first 24 hours were 5 ± 5.4 and 8 ± 6.4 in the omega-3 and placebo groups, respectively. The maximum and minimum values of pain severity scores in the omega-3 group were 6 and 0 in the placebo group. The patients’ quality of life in both groups showed a statistically significant difference in weeks 2 and 3 (p = 0.01).

Omega-3 fatty acids show promise in reducing the severity and duration of mucositis as well as the associated pain intensity.

• Small sample (< 100)
• Other limitations/explanation: Only two types of diagnosis breast cancer and leukemia were included.

These results show promise for treating patients with oral mucositis with omega-3 fatty acid.