Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Fish Oil May Not Help Prevent Cancer
AP on Yahoo ^ | 1/24/06 | Lindsey Tanner - ap

Posted on 01/24/2006 11:08:14 PM PST by NormsRevenge

CHICAGO - Fish oil, seen as beneficial for reducing heart disease risks, probably doesn't help prevent cancer, according to a review of studies involving more than 700,000 patients.

Researchers examined data from 38 studies that tracked patients for up to 30 years, and said most showed there is no cancer protection from omega-3 fatty acids. Although a few studies found some risk reduction for cancers of the breast, prostate and lung, those studies were relatively small and not definitive, said Dr. Catherine MacLean, the lead author and a researcher at the Rand Corp. and Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

"It doesn't mean that omega-3 fatty acids don't have other health benefits — it's just that reducing cancer risk isn't one of them," MacLean said.

However, the review is unlikely to be the last word on the issue. Diet is known to play a role in cancer and the researchers evaluated observational studies, which provide mostly circumstantial evidence.

The reviewed studies examined the effects of fish oil — in both pill form and as food — on 11 kinds of cancer, mostly tumors of the breast, colon, lung or prostate.

The 38 studies are too heterogeneous — involving different population groups and different levels of fish oil consumption — to provide a definitive conclusion about whether fish oil reduces cancer risks, said Julie Buring, a chronic disease researcher at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital, who was not involved in the study.

"It doesn't tell us it's unlikely or likely," Buring said. "What is supported is that right now we don't know."

The study appears in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. It was funded by the government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Omega-3 fatty acids are plentiful in darker, oily fish including salmon, sardines and mackerel. They are mostly thought to help prevent heart disease, not cancerand American Heart Association guidelines recommend at least two servings of fish per week to help prevent heart disease.

Several studies have suggested that fish oil can improve heart and blood vessel function and lower levels of blood fats called triglycerides.

Some animal studies have suggested that fish oil might also reduce cancer risks but the evidence in people is less clear. The potential connection is bolstered by low rates for certain cancers in countries including Japan, where fish consumption is high.

The American Cancer Society recommends fish as a source of protein partly because it doesn't contain high amounts of saturated fats that are in red meat and which some scientists think might increase risks for prostate and colon cancer.

Colleen Doyle, the society's nutrition and physical activity director, said the new study won't "change our bottom-line message about fish."

"Even though fish might not reduce cancer risk, it's still important to include it in your diet" because heart disease is the nation's leading killer, Doyle said.

___

On the Net:

JAMA: http://http://jama.ama-assn.org

AHRQ: http://www.ahrq.gov


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: cancer; fattyacids; fishoil; omega3

1 posted on 01/24/2006 11:08:16 PM PST by NormsRevenge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge
And, as it turns out, fish oil isn't good for preventing heart rythim issues in heart attack patients. There was a study last year that set out to show that fish oil helped prevent arythmias and V-fib in patients with scar tissue across their heart, but guess what - the results showed the exact opposite.

That isn't to say that fish oil is bad - after all, nerve sheaths need healthy fats. It just isn't the panacea the snake oil salesmen make it out to be.

2 posted on 01/24/2006 11:14:24 PM PST by Yossarian (The media is now simply running a 24/7 soap opera with Dubya cast as the arch villain.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Yossarian

The snake oil salesmen sometimes are hard to determine.
Pauling said that Vit. C could help people resisit colds. The Mayo Clinic blew that about with a ten year study. Of course, they used 250 mgs per day while Pauling said that 10 GRAMS or more was effective.
Lot`sa folk selling that snake oil


3 posted on 01/24/2006 11:34:24 PM PST by bybybill (GOD help us if the Rats win)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Yossarian
That isn't to say that fish oil is bad - after all, nerve sheaths need healthy fats. It just isn't the panacea the snake oil salesmen make it out to be.

Yep, and snake oil isn't the panacea that fish oil salesmen make it out to be, either! :-)

4 posted on 01/24/2006 11:57:41 PM PST by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: NormsRevenge

Great! I can go back to eating donuts and cheese enchiladas! /sarcasm

I'd be interested to notice what strength of supplementation that they used. I notice a huge difference with my skin and PMS problems when I take my omega fatty acids. If taking omega nutrients helps control estrogen dominance manifested in PMS, then it make sense that it would help with other estrogen dominance issues like hormone-related cancers.


5 posted on 01/25/2006 6:43:55 AM PST by Aggie Mama
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Coleus

ping.


6 posted on 01/25/2006 11:01:05 PM PST by SunkenCiv (In the long run, there is only the short run.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson