Unlocking the Omega-3 Cancer Link
When it comes to colon cancer, it seems that the omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), offer powerful protection.
A new study adds to the growing amount of evidence linking omega-3s and fatty fish consumption to reduced risk of colorectal cancer. While most of the recognition omega-3s have gotten recently is centered around their ability to help improve cognitive function and protect the heart against cardiovascular disease, their role as cancer preventatives is still being investigated. This study is just one piece of that scientific puzzle.
Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, and Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital recruited 1,455 subjects with colorectal cancer, matched them to 1,455 healthy controls and analyzed their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids to determine whether there was a correlation with colorectal cancer risk. They found that a high dietary intake of omega-3s was associated with a 37% reduction of colorectal cancer risk, high intake of EPA was associated with a 41% reduction in risk and high intake of DHA, with a 37% reduction in risk. (American Journal of Epidemiology. 166(2): 181-195, 2007.)
It could be that these omega-3 fatty acids inhibit the metabolism of some omega-6 fatty acids which have been linked to cancer cell formation and proliferation. This is one theory. Another theory is that when we metabolize fatty acids, our bodies produce compounds called prostaglandins, which may either be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory, depending on whether they are a product of the metabolism of omega-3s — anti-inflammatory, or omega-6s — pro-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory prostaglandins are the ones that may protect against cancer.
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: While science is in the process of investigating the link between omega-3s and cancer, there really is no reason not to take supplemental omega-3s in the form of a high-quality, contaminant-free fish oil containing high levels of EPA and DHA. Fish body oils are the most concentrated source known to science for these vital fatty acids, which have already been thoroughly studied for their beneficial effects on the heart, brain, eyes and skin.
QUICK TIP: If you are concerned about mercury: 1) You can avoid mercury altogether and still get the health benefits associated with eating fish by taking a fish oil supplement certified to be free of contaminants. 2) The environmental pollutants which end up concentrated in the bodies of fish could be even more concentrated in a fish oil supplement, if it is not purified to the highest standards and tested for contaminants. Do not use a fish oil supplement if you are unsure of its purity.
Written exclusively for Stop Aging Now, the authority on anti-aging research, anti-aging nutrition, and anti-aging supplements.
