Recent literature data suggest beneficial effects of dietary fats in patients with cancers, in particular polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Milled mix of flax, sesame and pumpkin seeds provides a high amount of PUFAs and a desirable n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio.

Cancers are characterized by inflammation and alternations in lipid and fatty acid metabolism. Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma have impaired fatty acid profiles, low level of PUFAs, and high n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio. Moreover, these changes are related to clinical outcome.

Flax seeds, sesame and pumpkin seeds are rich sources of PUFAs. Dietary intake of milled mix of these seeds has been shown to decrease inflammation and improve PUFAs status in patients on hemodialysis and to decrease breast cancer risk.

The study design is single-blind, controlled, randomized nutritional intervention. The participants are randomly assigned into intervention and control group before starting chemotherapy. All patients receive nutritional counseling to achieve a daily energy and protein intake according to recommended dietary allowances, with (intervention) or without (control) of milled seed mix.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically confirmed Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Patients able to understand requirements of the study and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous radio- or chemotherapy
• Other serious chronic diseases
• Statin therapy
• Presence of allergy on any seeds
• Use of fat-based dietary supplements (such as fish oil, evening primrose oil etc) 3 months prior to study

Single blind