Ask the Pharmacist

Chemotherapy, can omega-3s help?

Can Omega 3s be of any help in people undergoing chemotherapy? If so, what is the most suitable formulation and daily dosage, if any? Thank you and good work. Ambrose



Dear Ambrose, 


The use of omega-3 fatty acids in cancer patients is evaluated:

  • To improve the nutritional status and function of patients
  • To reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy and other traditional therapies
  • To increase its response rate.

I give you below some articles from our blog that cite several studies regarding the effects of supplementation with omega-3 EPA and DHA in chemotherapy patients:



Omega-3 fatty acid supplement ation is part of a novel therapeutic strategy concept, which combines chemotherapy and traditional therapies with dietary supplementation with nutrients that could potentially improve treatment response and reduce psychological and physical distress in chemotherapy patients. The use of omega-3 fatty acids in combination with anticancer therapies may provide the following benefits to chemotherapy patients:


  • theanti-inflammatory effect of these fatty acids, a valuable aid given the important role that inflammation plays in tumor metabolism and drug resistance;
  • ability to reverse neoplastic cachexia, improve muscle mass and lean mass, and promote weight maintenance-frequent disturbances in chemotherapy.




Omegor Vitality 1000


The product I recommend is Omegor Vitality 1000 - available in packs of 30 or 45 softgel capsules. The dosage is 1-2 capsules per day to be taken near a main meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner. Omegor Vitality 1000 is a purified fish oil product concentrated in omega-3 that provides 420 mg of EPA and 210 mg of DHA per capsule. Omegor Vitality has the prestigious IFOS quality certificate - a guarantee of excellent product quality, freshness and absence of contaminants such as heavy metals, dioxins, furans and PCBs. 


Each production batch undergoes analysis at an independent Canadian laboratory specializing in fish oils, and the analysis on the product can be found at the IFOS website under "Consumer reports"-by going to search for our company name U.G.A. Nutraceuticals. Omegor Vitalityalways gets theIFOS maximum rating of 5 stars

You can find the IFOS certificate of a recent batch of Omegor Vitality 1000 here. I remain available for further information. 


Sincerely, Rosaria Ramondino Pharmacist and Pharmaceutical Chemist.