Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics 1 1 2015 10 05 2 8 EN Ali Nemati Department of Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran Seyyed Mostafa Nachvak Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of public health Kermanshah University of Medical sciences, Kermanshah, Iran Kurosh Djafarian Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran Iraj Faizi-Khankandi Department of Internal Disease, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences,Ardabil, Iran. 2015 10 05 2015 10 05 Background: Although some studies have shown positive effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on nutritional status of cancer patients undergoing different treatments, there is no consistency in results. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of omega-3 fatty acid on the nutritional status of gastric cancer patients during the course of chemotherapy. Methods: In a double-blind clinical trial, 30 adult patients with gastric cancer receiving chemotherapy were randomized into a supplement and a placebo groups and given daily, for 6 weeks, a 3-g omega-3 fatty acid supplement (containing 1.8g eicosapentaeonic plus 1.2g docosahexaenoic acid) and oral paraffin, respectively. Anthropometric data was collected and nutritional status assessed at the beginning,at week 4 and at the end of week 6. The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and independent sample t-test. Results: The findings indicated that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increased body weight, mean daily intake of   energy and macronutrients, serum levels of transferrin and albumin at the end of the 6-week period significantly (p<0.05). All these variables decreased in the placebo group (p<0.05). The increases in body weight, energy and carbohydrate intakes, and  serum levels  of  albumin in  the supplement group were time-dependent (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of present study showed that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can  improve  nutritional status  in  patients with  gastric  cancer during the course of chemotherapy. We recommend using omega-3 fatty acid supplement in patients with gastric cancer during chemotherapy. https://jnsd.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jnsd/article/view/2 https://jnsd.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jnsd/article/download/2/2