High-dose eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation reduces bone resorption in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors: a pilot study

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38 postmenopausal women being treated with aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer were randomized in this trial to determine the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on bone turnover and resorption. Participants were treated with capsules of either EPA+DHA or placebo (7 capsules/day) for 3 months, after which they were analyzed for serum fatty acid composition, biomarkers of bone turnover/resorption, as well as inflammatory markers. After 3 months, EPA+DHA supplmentation resulted in significant increases in long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and decreases in long-chain n-6 PUFAs from baseline values when compared to the placebo group. Decreases in several bone turnover and resorption markers were also noted, but only the decrease in procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide was significant compared to placebo.