Table 2

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Enriched Diet (n-3) and Gamma Irradiation Therapy (IR) on Blood Counts, (means ± SEM)
Therapy Group
 n
 WBC × 103/μL
 RBC × 106/μL
 Platelets × 103/μL
 Micronuclei (%RBC)
Early Kill1




n-6
 4
 2.91 ± 0.83
 9.08 ± 0.07
 584 ± 76
 1.3 ± 0.04
n-6/IR
 4
 0.11 ± 0.01
 7.50 ± 0.16
 389 ± 17
 1.2 ± 0.03
n-3
 7
 2.02 ± 0.30
 8.45 ± 0.12
 634 ± 51
 1.2 ± 0.03
n-3/IR
 4
 0.16 ± 0.03
 7.66 ± 0.07
 358 ± 78
 1.5 ± 0.04
Late Kill2




n-6
 8
 1.85 ± 0.37
 8.30 ± 0.14
 551 ± 83
 1.6 ± 0.06
n-6/IR
 13
 1.48 ± 0.32
 7.06 ± 0.16
 973 ± 98
 1.1 ± 0.01
n-3
 16
 2.85 ± 0.42
 8.31 ± 0.20
 582 ± 61
 1.3 ± 0.04
n-3/IR
 10
 0.92 ± 0.18
 6.10 ± 0.40
 918 ± 131
 0.9 ± 0.03

1Mice euthanized one day after last irradiation treatment.

2Mice euthanized 22 days after last irradiation treatment.

Results of Statistical Analyses:

1. At one day after the end of irradiation therapy, there were significant decreases in WBC, RBC, and platelet counts due to the irradiation. There were no other significant differences at p < 0.01.

2. At 22 days after the end of irradiation therapy, WBC and RBC counts were still significantly decreased and there was a significant increase in platelet counts due to irradiation. There were no other significant differences at p < 0.01.

Hardman et al. Cancer Cell International 2005 5:12   doi:10.1186/1475-2867-5-12