Omega 3s may help cut colon cancer risk

	Tweet

People who eat plenty of fish oil and other omega-3 fatty acids could cut their risk of colon cancer, new research hints.

Studies in animals and a couple of small trials in people suggest that fish oil supplementation can fight inflammation and may have cancer-fighting properties, Dr. Sangmi Kim of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and colleagues note. But so far studies looking at the diets of larger groups of people have had equivocal results.

To investigate further, Kim and colleagues examined the relationship between polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and bowel cancer risk in 1,503 whites (including 716 colon cancer patients and 787 healthy controls) and 369 African Americans (213 with colon cancer, 156 controls).

Among whites, the researchers found, those in the top fourth based on their omega-3 consumption had half the risk of colon cancer compared to those in the bottom fourth.

When the researchers looked separately at the two main fatty acids contained in fish oil --eicosapentaenoic acids and docosahexaenoic acids—they found risk also fell with increasing intake.

When the researchers looked at whites and blacks together, they also found a reduced risk of colon cancer with increasing omega 3 intake; separate analysis of the black study participants didn’t find this relationship.

They also found that people who consumed more omega-6 fatty acids in relation to omega-3s were more likely to have colon cancer, although omega-6 intake in and of itself didn’t affect risk.

In addition to fish oils, omega-3 fatty acid sources include seed oils, such as walnut oil and flax-seed oils, and leafy green vegetables. People in the US typically eat more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3s; top sources include palm oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil.

The researchers also found an “unexpected” association between higher omega-3 intake and colon cancer in African-Americans, but urged caution in interpreting this finding, which they say “may have been due to chance.” Nevertheless, they conclude, “whether the possible benefit from this dietary modification varies by race warrants further evaluation.”

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, online April 14, 2010.

RELATED STORIES:
Major Advance in Search for Genes Associated with Colon Cancer   Study Finds Evidence of Gender-Related Differences In Development of Colon Cancer   Different type of colon cancer vaccine reduces disease spread, Jefferson scientists show   Soy May Reduce the Risk of Colorectal Cancer   Curry-derived Molecules Might be Too Spicy for Colorectal Cancers   Occult blood test reduces colorectal cancer crises   Women require less tobacco exposure than men to increase colon cancer risk   Camera screens can slash colon cancer deaths   Tests between colonoscopies could be lifesaver for high-risk patients   ‘Cross-talk’ Mechanism Contributes to Colorectal Cancer   Sex, Age and Ethnicity Associated With Colorectal Cancer Survival   Drug improves survival of colorectal cancer patients, trial results show   Exercise, diet may protect against colorectal cancer   LOH analysis on 4q in sporadic colorectal carcinoma   Women fare better than men with metastatic colorectal cancer—are hormones helping?   Digestive Health Experts Urge More Americans to Get Screened for Colorectal Cancer   Blood pressure drugs don’t protect against colorectal cancer   Bowel cancer: 8 years of colonoscopy screening in Germany—a success story   Apple pectin, apple juice extracts shown to have anticarcinogenic effects on colon   Genetic ID of Marker in Lymph Nodes May be Linked to Colorectal Cancer Recurrence Risk   Smoking Related to Subset of Colorectal Cancers with Absent DNA Repair Proteins   Surgery Complications Linked to Chemotherapy Delay

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]