Critical Analysison a study-Cancer cachexia- omega 3 benefits Essay

Critical Analysison a study-Cancer cachexia- omega 3 benefits - Essay Example he ability to assimilate nutrients for body-building is being compromised at the same time that the underlying disease is causing diminished appetite leading to poor feeding. Unlike primary protein energy malnutrition (which occurs in anorexia nervosa or kwashiorkor/marasmus), cachexia is induced by disease conditions. With primary protein energy malnutrition, the problem is one of inadequate nutritional intake. But in cachexia, the issue is that patients, regardless of the adequacy of nutritional intake, have abnormally accelerated disposition of nutrients, hence a negative balance of metabolism results (Fearon and Moses, 2002). Inflammatory processes are involved in secondary PEM which are absent in primary PEM, and while primary PEM can be reversed by bolstering nutrient intake, the same benefit cannot be obtained in secondary PEM. In primary PEM there is faster loss of adipose tissue than that of lean body mass, but the loss is equally from both compartments in cachexia. Skeletal muscle loss is a feature that is peculiar to the cachexic state (Tisdale, 2003). Previous laboratory and clinical studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and EPA-containing supplements demonstrate molecular anti-inflammatory activity which is relevant to the attenuation of cachexia, in both humans and animal models. However, past results from multiple studies have been equivocal in their findings, and this study aims to elicit independent objective evidence in favour of or against the proposition that EPA confers significant benefit in arresting the progress of cachexia in affected patients. Yes. There was inadequate discussion of the basis for their using the type of EPA preparations they used, as opposed to other available types. The authors could also have done a better job of reviewing the literature on the mechanistic aspects of how cachexia develops and what bearing this information will have on the approach they used for their