Reduce Breast Cancer Risk With Fish Oils

Numerous studies have reported the health benefits of fish oil. Now, a large new study has found that a seafood diet that contains higher levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Researchers at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China published their findings on June 27 in BMJ.

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The researchers note that breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of death from cancer among women, accounting for 23% of the total cancer cases and 14% of cancer deaths in 2008. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths, behind lung cancer. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 26 six research publications, including 20,905 cases of breast cancer and 883,585 participants from 21 independent prospective cohort studies. Of the 26 studies, 11 (13,323 breast cancer events and 687,770 participants) investigated fish intake, 17 articles investigated marine n-3 PUFA (16,178 breast cancer events and 527,392 participants), and 12 articles investigated alpha linolenic acid (14,284 breast cancer events and 405,592 participants). A meta-analysis is the compilation of data from several studies to increase the validity of the results. The data was obtained from PubMed and Embase up to December 2012.

The authors noted that fish (especially salmon, tuna, and sardines) are the most abundant source of marine n-3 PUFA; thus, they evaluated these sources as well as dietary supplements containing marine n-3 PUFA. They found that marine n-3 PUFA was associated with 14% reduction of risk of breast cancer, and the relative risk remained similar whether marine n-3 PUFA was measured as dietary intake or as tissue biomarkers. Subgroup analyses also indicated that the inverse association between marine n-3 PUFA and risk was more evident in studies that did not adjust for body mass index (BMI) than in studies that did adjust for BMI. Dose-response analysis indicated that risk of breast cancer was reduced by 5% per 0.1g/day or 0.1% energy/day increment of dietary marine n-3 PUFA intake. No significant association was observed for fish intake or exposure to alpha linolenic acid.

The authors concluded that higher consumption of dietary marine n-3 PUFA is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. They added that the associations of fish and alpha linolenic acid intake with risk warrant further investigation of prospective cohort studies. They note that their findings could public health implications in regard to prevention of breast cancer through dietary and lifestyle interventions.

Health Benefits of Fish Oil

Take home message:

This study notes that, in addition to cardiovascular benefits, marine n-3 PUFA can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Supplements are available that contain the substance. Include seafood such as salmon, tuna, and sardines in your diet. Avoid farm-raise products such as farm-raised salmon. This seafood contains antibiotics and other pollutants, which negate their health benefits.

Source: http://www.edtreatmentindia.com/