Fish Oil May Protect Against Breast Cancer
Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 7:18AMA couple weeks ago I posted about an antioxidant found in peaches and plums that may protect against breast cancer. Here's a study that focuses on fish oil's capacity to do the same.
This new evidence about the benefits of omega 3s comes from a study involving more than 35,000 postmenopausal women who were taking non-vitamin, non-mineral dietary supplements. The women completed a 24-page questionnaire about their supplement use, and then were followed for six years, during which 880 cases of breast cancer were reported among them. After reviewing the participants' histories, Investigators from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found a 32 percent reduced risk of breast cancer among the women who reported taking fish oil supplements. No other supplement was linked to a reduced breast cancer risk in their investigation. While these results are encouraging, a recommendation to take fish oil to prevent breast cancer cannot be made on the basis of a single study, said lead investigator Emily White, Ph.D. We may learn more about whether fish oil is protective after completion of a Vitamin D and Omega-3 trial that is just getting started at Harvard. Researchers will look at the impact of fish oil supplements and vitamin D on cancer, heart disease and stroke on 20,000 men and women in their 60s and older. The Seattle fish oil study was published in the July 2010 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Here are some ways to reduce your risk for breast cancer in addition to consuming omega-3s.
Reader Comments (9)
The evidence just keeps growing for the many benefits of omega-3. Meanwhile, I am enjoying lots of delicious omega-3 foods, including walnuts, pecans, ground flaxseed, and wild salmon.
This is certainly terrific news and since it comes from you, I trust its reliability. You mentioned Omega 3 and fish oil which raised a question in my mind. If I have salmon in my diet and eat it regularly, is it necessary to also take fish oil supplements? I have wondered about this question for some time. I found some information on this at http://www.buy-fish-oil.com/fish-oil-vs-salmon.php but I was wondering what your take on this is? You are such a trustworthy source of information that I tend to wait until I hear what you have to say about an issue before I believe it.
Lois H.
If you're eating wild-caught varieties, eating salmon regularly should suffice. Unfortunately, farm-raised fish are so toxic, even the FDA, the defender of big business, recommends only one serving a month! That's when fish or krill oil supplements are welcome, since the best ones are purified to remove toxins.
Lois H.
Dr. Weil says:
We all need the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil for long-term health and to reduce our risks of heart disease, cancer, decrease inflammation and enhance mood. If you're healthy, you're better off getting omega-3s not by a fish oil supplement but by eating at least three servings per week of oily fish (wild Alaskan salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring). Avoid carnivorous fish such as swordfish and marlin, which spend a lot of time in coastal waters where pollution levels are highest; bluefish, which tend to concentrate mercury; and albacore tuna, which may harbor the same pollutants as swordfish and marlin.
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However, some people may benefit from taking fish oil capsules in addition to eating fish. Ms. Johnson recommends them to those with autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, heart disease, diabetes, mental or emotional disorders, or insulin resistance. Because they can affect blood clotting, avoid fish oil supplements if you're taking any anticoagulant drugs like Coumadin (warfarin), have had a hemorrhagic stroke, or are scheduled for surgery.
I don't get enough fish in my diet. What is the recommended supplement dose, and what should I be looking for in a fish oil product--type/source of fish, capsule, liquid, brand? There's so much out there, and its quite confusing.
With regard to the jasmine scent as a sleep aid: how/in what form is it used?
Thanks so much
The recommended doses on the bottle are usually a good starting point. If you're going through menopause, higher doses (maybe 2X) can help with symptoms.
Be sure not to use cheap store brands; they're not purified sufficiently and are often contaminated with toxins.
I recently saw this, from the Cancer Research Update:
The Latest on Fish Oil and Cancer
Despite a new study reporting that fish oil could decrease breast cancer risk, many researchers remain highly skeptical of this supplement, due to the numerous health risks associated with fish oil intake. Fish consumption has actually been tied to increased breast cancer risk. A study from Nutrition and Cancer shows that postmenopausal women who consume a mere 25 grams of fish per day (just under 1 ounce) have a 14 percent greater risk of developing estrogen-positive breast cancer. Analysts of fish oil have found high levels of contaminants such as organochlorine pesticides, methyl mercury, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), even in molecularly distilled fish oil. And the touted omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils are actually highly unstable molecules that tend to decompose and unleash dangerous free radicals.
It's only the first article I've seen that has a negative spin, in what seems like an ocean of positives about fish oil. But are some of those claims true?
Sorry, meant to include the source:
www.cancerproject.org
My advice is to not pay attention to the results of any one study; the chances of any particular study being accurate are just about 50-50. (this has been studied and documented.)
I have read that fish oil can suffer oxidation rather easily, so check the expiration date before you buy, and stick to reputable manufacturers.