Fish Oil Linked to Lower Cancer Risk

Jul - 2010

Fish Oil Linked to Lower Cancer Risk

Fish oil supplementation may be linked to a lower risk of breast cancer, researchers

report in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 35,000 women who were 50-75 years old and participated in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort study. From 2000 to 2002, the women answered questions about their past and current supplement use. The researchers kept track of invasive breast cancer diagnoses by accessing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry from 2000 to 2007.

The researchers found that women who regularly took fish oil supplements were one-third less likely to develop breast cancer than those who did not take supplements. This reduced risk remained after the researchers adjusted for other breast cancer risk factors, such as older age, heavy drinking and obesity.

The findings support several epidemiologic studies, which have reported that dietary omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil may reduce the risk of developing breast, colon and prostate cancers.

However, the recent study is limited by its observational design. Controlled human trials are needed to determine if fish oil supplements actually have an anticancer effect.



1.Brasky TM, Lampe JW, Potter JD, et al. Specialty Supplements and Breast Cancer Risk in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Cohort. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2010;19(7).
2.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com