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 is an orthodontist with 2 years of clinical experience. She is also working as a medical writer and anchor at Medical Dialogues. She has completed her BDS from Dr D.Y. Patil Medical College and Hospital and MDS from Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences. She has a few publications and patents to her credit. Her diverse background in clinical dentistry and academic research uniquely positions her to contribute meaningfully to our team.