Effects of Dietary Supplementation With omega3-fatty Acids (Fish Oil) and Progressive Resistance Training on Skeletal Muscle Status in Gynaecological, Gastrointestinal and Urological Cancer Patients (SUPPORT)

June 8, 2026 updated by: University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

SUPPORT-Study = Effects of a Dietary SUPPlementation With Omega3-fatty Acids/ Fish Oil and Progressive Resistence Training on Skeletal Muscle Status in Gynaecological, Gastrointestinal, and Urological Cancer Patients

Cancer cachexia is a common and prognostically relevant complication of advanced malignancies, characterized by systemic inflammation, increased catabolism, and reduced nutritional intake, leading to a progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, physical performance, and quality of life. Muscle wasting negatively affects the tolerability and efficacy of oncological therapies and exacerbates distressing symptoms such as fatigue. Consequently, international guidelines recommend combined nutritional and exercise interventions as key components of supportive cancer care. However, due to treatment-related limitations, conventional exercise programs are often difficult to implement, highlighting the need for feasible, time-efficient, and individually adaptable training concepts suitable for daily life.

In addition, adequate protein-rich nutrition is essential and may be supported by targeted nutritional supplementation. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects and beneficial influences on nutritional status, quality of life, and potentially skeletal muscle mass.

The aim of the present project is to investigate, in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, whether the combination of progressive resistance training (twice-weekly TheraBand-based exercise) and omega-3 supplementation (daily intake of 2 g EPA and 1 g DHA administered as fish oil capsules) can improve muscle status, physical performance, and patient-relevant outcomes such as quality of life, appetite, and fatigue in cancer patients at high risk of developing cancer cachexia.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
288

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Germany
    • Bavaria
      • Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany, 91056
        • Recruiting
        • Hector-Center for Nutrition, Exercise and Sports
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with malignant tumors undergoing curative or palliative treatment, including breast, ovarian, esophageal, pancreatic, gastric, colon, rectal, and prostate cancer, across all UICC stages
  • Women and men aged 18 years or older
  • ECOG performance status 0-2

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients younger than 18 years
  • Bone metastases or skeletal involvement associated with a high risk of fracture
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Patients with psychiatric disorders that raise concerns regarding decision-making capacity or ability to provide informed consent
  • Participation in other exercise and/or nutritional intervention studies within the previous 3 months
  • Current use of fish oil supplements
  • Severe cardiovascular disease, NYHA class IV

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo, no training
Placebo (corn oli) and no training program
Dietary supplement: Corn Oil Placebo, 4 capsules/day for 12 weeks
4x capsueles daily
Placebo Comparator: Placebo, training group
Placebo (corn oli) and 2x weekly resistance training
Dietary supplement: Corn Oil Placebo, 4 capsules/day for 12 weeks
4x capsueles daily
Behavioral: Training
2x weekly resistance training
Experimental: Omega-3, no training
Verum (Omega-3-capsules with fish oil) and no training program
Dietary supplement: Omega 3 FA (Fish Oil)
4x capsules containing 500 mg EPA and 250 mg DHA
Experimental: Omega-3, training group
Verum (Omega-3-capsules with fish oil) and 2x weekly resistance training
Behavioral: Training
2x weekly resistance training
Dietary supplement: Omega 3 FA (Fish Oil)
4x capsules containing 500 mg EPA and 250 mg DHA

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Skeletal Muscle Status I
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Body composition: BIA (SMM in kg)
Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Skeletal Muscle Status II
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Muscle function: Tensiomyography (TMG) (Dm in mm, Tc in ms, Td in ms, Ts in ms, Tr in ms)
Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Skeletal Muscle Status III
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Maximal muscle strength: estimated one-repetition maximum (1-RM in kg)
Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Skeletal Muscle Status IV
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Handgrip strength: dynamometer (in kg)
Baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Physical Performance I
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Functional exercise capacity: 6-minute walk test (distance in m)
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Physical Performance II
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Daily physical activity: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Physical Performance III
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Accelerometry over 7 consecutive days (steps)
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Nutritional Status I
Time Frame: baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Malnutrition screening: Nutritional Risk Screening Score (NRS 2002) [0 (no risk) - 7 (highest risk)]
baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Nutritional Status II
Time Frame: baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Dietary intake and nutrient analysis: 3 or 7-day dietary record for assessment of energy and protein intake (in g)
baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Nutritional Status III
Time Frame: baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Dietary intake and nutrient analysis: 3 or 7-day dietary record and assessment of consumption of EPA- and DHA-rich foods, and omega-3/omega-6 fatty acid ratio (in g)
baseline, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient-Reported Outcomes I
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Appetite perception: VAS-scale (Visual Analog Scale 0 [none] - 10 [excessive])
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Patient-Reported Outcomes II
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Quality of life: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire - Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30)
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Patient-Reported Outcomes III
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Fatigue: The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) - Scale [0-52, higher scores indicate better quality of life and less severe fatigue]
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Patient-Reported Outcomes III
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Symptom burden and treatment-related side effects: Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE)
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Patient-Reported Outcomes IV
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) [0 (none) - 10 (worst possible)]
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Omega-3-Index
Time Frame: baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion
Laboratory Endpoints: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Status as Blood-Based Biomarkers
baseline, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months follow-up after study completion

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg Medical School

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Yurdagül Zopf, Prof. Dr. med., Universitätsklinikum Erlangen

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 11, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 8, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • SUPPORT-Study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Cancer

Clinical Trials on Corn Oil Placebo, 4 capsules/day for 12 weeks

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings