Pilot study to investigate dietary supplementation of elderly COPD patients with an oral nutritional supplement enriched with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and its effect on respiratory function, appetite and weight

INTERVENTION: Randomised controlled trial CONDITION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ; Respiratory ; Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease PRIMARY OUTCOME: 1. Improved lung function; 2. Decreased sytokine responses. ; Fish oils have been used with promising results in other wasting conditions such as HIV, cancer and sepsis. There are no published trials investigating the possible benefits of fish oil supplementation in COPD patients and this proposal aims to do this. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Not provided at time of registration INCLUSION CRITERIA: Out patients from COPD clinic at the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust