Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation attenuates intestinal mucositis and tumor growth in a murine model of breast cancer

The potential use of Omega-3 fatty acid for its anti-inflammatory properties has been proposed to alleviate the side effects of cancer therapeutics. Fifty female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to five treatment groups. Mice were injected with Murine 4 T1 breast cancer cells, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to induce mucositis. The mice were provided control or chow supplemented with Omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil with 15 % EPA and 7 % DHA, respectively). Our results showed that, the use of Omega-3 prevented intestinal mucositis by reducing intestinal permeability and restoring histological parameters. Additionally, Omega-3 supplementation enhanced the antineoplastic effect of 5-FU, as evidenced by a greater reduction in tumor growth compared to the other groups. Furthermore, the combined administration of 5-FU and Omega-3 significantly reduced the formation of lung metastasis. Collectively, these findings suggest that Omega-3 supplementation, particularly in conjunction with 5-FU, may contribute to the treatment of cancer by decreasing induced intestinal mucositis.