CNN/Health.com reported, “Millions of Americans already take fish oil to keep their hearts healthy and to treat ailments ranging from arthritis to depression.”
Now a new study appearing in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention suggests that fish oil “supplements may also help women lower their risk of breast cancer.”
In fact, “postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 76 who took fish oil were … less likely to develop certain types of breast cancer than women who didn’t,” researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found.
However, consider this information very preliminary. My friends at the Natural Medicines Comprehensive database say this:
Cancer. There is conflicting evidence about the role of fish oil in cancer prevention. Epidemiological research suggests that intake of fish oils from dietary sources or higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils are associated with a decreased risk of several cancers including oral cancer, pharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer (6395,7378,9773,9774,10153,12958,12959,12960,12961) (12962,15736); however, a pooled analysis of data from studies on fish oils and cancer risk suggests that consuming fish oil from dietary sources does not significant reduce the risk of various cancers (14264).
There is conflicting evidence about the role of fish oil in cancer prevention. Epidemiological research suggests that intake of fish oils from dietary sources or higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils are associated with a decreased risk of several cancers including oral cancer, pharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer; however, a pooled analysis of data from studies on fish oils and cancer risk suggests that consuming fish oil from dietary sources does not significant reduce the risk of various cancers.
You can read more about the study here.
You can also read my blog on how to take the right kind and amount of fish oil here.
