Can Fish Oil Supplements Guard Against Risk of Developing Cancer? Study Sheds Light - Video
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Overview
New research from the University of Georgia suggests omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may help ward off a variety of cancers.
"Higher omega-3 and omega-6 levels were associated with lower rates of cancer," said Yuchen Zhang, lead author of the study and a doctoral student in UGA’s College of Public Health.
Participants with higher levels of omega-3s had lower rates of colon, stomach and lung cancer, in addition to lower rates of other digestive tract cancers. High omega-6 levels led to lower rates of 14 different cancers, including brain, malignant melanoma, bladder and more.
The study relied on data from a United Kingdom-based study of over 250,000 people who were followed for more than a decade. Of those participants, almost 30,000 developed some form of cancer during the study period.
Known as “healthy fats,” omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for human health. But the decision to take the popular fish oil pills isn’t one-size-fits-all. In the present study, for example, the researchers found that high omega-3 levels could be associated with a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer.
“For women, it’s an easy decision: Eat more omega-3,” said Kaixiong Ye, corresponding author of the study and an associate professor in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
The researchers also saw a stronger beneficial effect of omega-6 in younger participants, particularly women.
Reference: Zhang Y, Sun Y, Song S, Khankari NK, Brenna JT, Shen Y, Ye K. Associations of plasma omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids with overall and 19 site-specific cancers: a population-based cohort study in UK Biobank. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Jan 22:2024.01.21.24301568. doi: 10.1101/2024.01.21.24301568. Update in: Int J Cancer. 2024 Oct 17. doi: 10.1002/ijc.35226. PMID: 38343844; PMCID: PMC10854355.
Speakers
Dr. Bhumika Maikhuri
BDS, MDS
Dr. Bhumika Maikhuri is a medical correspondent with Medical Dialogues. She holds a BDS from Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and an MDS in Orthodontics from Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences. She regularly contributes articles on dental and general health topics, including fact checks, expert features, and public health updates. Her strong clinical and research background ensures depth and credibility in her writing.