Pink News: Fish oil prevents breast cancer

Editor's note: In the pink month, the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we publish below, for those who might be interested, a report that suggests eating oily fish and taking fish oil supplements may help prevent breast cancer. 

Fish oil may help prevent breast cancer

Eating oily fish or taking fish oil supplements often may help reduce risk of developing breast cancer, according to a study published in the July 2010 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 

The study led by Brasky T.M. and colleagues from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington found current consumption of fish oil was correlated with a 32 percent reduced risk of breast cancer. 

The researchers surveyed 35,000 women ages 50 to 76 in the Vitamins and Lifestyle Cohort on their dietary habits between 2000 and 2002. A total of 880 incidents of invasive breast cancer were identified from 2000 through 2007 in a database called the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Registry. 

The researchers found a ten-year average use of fish oil was associated with reduced risk of breast cancer.  But the reduction was found only in the risk of ductal, not lobular breast cancer. 

There was no association observed between use of black cohosh, dong quai, soy, or St. John's wort and the risk of breast cancer. 

Fish oil, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, has already been found protective against a number of cancers.  Likewise, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), two omega-fatty acids found in fish oil have already been found protective against cancer. 

Breast cancer is diagnosed in more than 175,000 women and kills about 50,000 each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.  An estimated 12.5 percent of American women are expected to develop breast cancer sooner or later in their life time. 

Nutrition experts believe that breast cancer in many cases is preventable.  Diet and lifestyle are important in affecting the risk of this disease.

(More reports will be posted on the site in the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.)

David Liu and editing by Rachel Stockton