Women who regularly take fish oil supplement reduce their breast cancer risk by 32 percent according to a new cancer research. Emily White, Ph.D., is a member of the public health sciences division. Photo Credit: Emily White, Ph.D.July 08, 2010, (Sawf News) - Women who regularly take fish oil supplement reduce their breast cancer risk by 32 percent according to a new cancer research.
The recent report published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, adds to the growing evidence that fish oil supplements may play a role in preventing chronic disease.
This research is the first to demonstrate a link between the use of fish oil supplements and a reduction in breast cancer. Studies of dietary intake of fish or omega-3 fatty acids have not been consistent.
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Wash., led by Emily White asked 35,016 postmenopausal women ages 50 to 76 who did not have a history of breast cancer to complete a 24-page questionnaire about their use of non-vitamin, non-mineral "specialty" supplements in the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort study.
After six years of follow-up, 880 cases of breast cancer were identified.
Regular use of fish oil supplements, which contain high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, was linked with a 32 percent reduced risk of breast cancer. The reduction in risk appeared to be restricted to invasive ductal breast cancer, the most common type of the disease.
The use of other specialty supplements such as black cohosh, dong quai and soy aomng many others, which are commonly taken by women to treat symptoms of menopause, was not associated with breast cancer risk.
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