Positive Health Online

Abstract

MAEHLE and colleagues, Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway Lovise.mahle@klinmed.uio.no write that various mechanisms for the inhibition by n-3 fatty acids (FA) upon tumour progression have been proposed. The authors studied the relationship between inhibition of growth of lung cancer cells and lipid peroxidation products .

Background

Methodology

To test whether the inhibition of the growth of subscutaneously transplanted A427 lung cancer cells may be due to an increased level of lipid peroxidation products, mice were fed diets supplemented with corn oil (CO), olive oil (OO) or K85, a mixture of ethyl esters of n-3 FAs, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Results

Tumours in the n-3 FA group showed reduced growth . Peroxidation products, measured by the thiobarbituric acid reactive test (TBARS) showed higher levels in tumours from the n-3 FA fed mice than from the other diet groups. The growth inhibitory effects and the elevated TBARS level in the n-3 FA group were counteracted by vitamin E supplement in the diet. Cu/ZN-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver did not differ greatly among the groups. The cell proliferation rate was significantly lower in the K85 diet group compared to the other diet groups.

Conclusion

: These results demonstrate the growth inhibitory effects of n-3 fatty acids upon lung cancer cells in mice.

References

Maehle L et al. Growth of human lung adenocarcinoma in nude mice is influenced by various types of dietary fat and vitamin E. Anticancer Research 19(3A): 1649-55. May-Jun 1999.