The role of omega 3 fatty acids in suppressing muscle protein catabolism: A possible therapeutic strategy to reverse cancer cachexia?

Cancer cachexia is a complex multifactorial syndrome which etiology still under discussion, characterized by ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass, accompanied or not by loss of fat mass. Cachexia cannot be reversed only by energetic-protein adequacy, so, many therapeutic strategies are being investigated. Omega-3 fatty acids are widely used and studied in cancer cachexia and many studies have shown improvement in inflammation status and muscle homeostasis modulation. When these fatty acids are incorporated to cell membrane, they modify signal transduction, prostaglandin synthesis and produce pro-resolving mediators, promoting anti-inflammatory action and inhibition of the catabolic pathways. This review article discusses the evidences and mechanisms of direct and indirect action by which n-3 acids stimulate protein anabolism and inhibit proteolysis. Although reasonable, EPA and DHA supplementation in cancer cachexia requires further studies dedicated to better clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in the recovery of muscle homeostasis, as well as its clinical effects. (AU)