Study of the effect of omega-3 on cancer related fatigue in outpatienttreatment setting and comparison with control group: randomizedclinical trial study

Background and Aim: Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of cancer and its associatedtreatments and is distressing, resistant, persistent and inward feeling that can be either physical ormental. Omega-3 fatty acids have antitumor effects through inhibition of angiogenesis andmetastasis. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of omega-3 supplement as anunconfirmed effect on conventional Ginseng treatment with possible effect on this side effect incancer patients.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in 2018 on cancer patients referring tooutpatient clinics affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Patients were included instudy by the convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into two groups, controlgroup and intervention group. Data were collected using MFI (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory)questionnaire.Findings: Mean scores of fatigue, general fatigue, mental fatigue, physical fatigue, decliningactivity and declining motivation in both control and intervention groups between the three times :0, and weeks after the intervention using repeated measures ANOVA analysis has significantdifference (P <0.001). Also, the results showed that the most common type of cancer in all patientswas breast cancer (38%).Conclusion: Omega-3 supplement can reduce cancer-related fatigue in outpatient cancer patientscompared with control group. Due to the lack of extensive studies based on the standard andreliable finding, and considering the specific effects of omega-3 supplement in the pathophysiologyof cancer, further clinical investigation considered based on various types of cancer to prove theeffect of this supplement