Method for the prevention and treatment of cachexia and anorexia

A method of preventing the onset of cancer cachexia or treating existing cancer cachexia in a human, said method comprising enterally administering to the human on a daily basis a liquid nutritional matrix containing:

• (a) an oil blend containing n-6 fatty acids and at least 450 mg of n-3 fatty acids, the weight ratio of n-6 fatty acids to n-3 fatty acids being from about 0.1 to about 1;
• and said oil blend provides from about 10% to about 35% of the total calories of said nutritional;
• (b) a source of amino-nitrogen wherein 15% to 50% by weight of the amino acids of said source of amino-nitrogen are branched-chain amino acids, and said source of amino nitrogen provides from about 12% to about 24% of the total calories of said nutritional;
• (c) an antioxidant component comprised of at least one nutrient selected from the group comprising beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, or mixtures thereof, and;
• (d) a source of carbohydrate providing from about 40% to about 65% of the total calories of said nutritional.