Effects of Nutritional Supplementation on Tumor Growth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies Using Animal Models of Mammary Cancer
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, and experimental tumor models are essential for evaluating new therapeutic approaches before clinical application. The Walker-256 carcinoma model exhibits biological behavior comparable to human carcinoma and allows short-term assessment of tumor progression. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of dietary supplementation on Walker-256 tumor growth. We followed the PRISMA guidelines and searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases without time restrictions. The meta-analysis included clustering based on the type of supplementation received, comparing treatment groups with control groups. Twenty-one studies were included, analyzing 18 different supplements, and 12 studies were considered for quantitative synthesis. The overall effect indicated a significant reduction in tumor growth with supplementation (SMD = 2.83, 95% CI = 1.99–3.66, p < 0.001), despite high heterogeneity (I2 = 93.3%). Oils had the greatest impact, particularly fish oil (SMD = 6.99, 95% CI = 3.15–10.83, p < 0.001) and shark liver oil (SMD = 4.43, 95% CI = 2.19–6.67, p < 0.01).
Source: Biology
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
Award: G6894627215
OpenAlex ID: W7124130657