Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent breast cancer - study

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an influential organization that raises funds to support cancer research, does not give out much information on breast cancer prevention on their official website, although abundant evidence suggests that breast cancer in many cases is preventable. 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to preventing breast cancer.  Breast cancer is expected to be diagnosed in more than 200,000 men and women and kill about 50,000 this year in the United States. One in eight women is expected to develop the disease in their lifetime.  

In the pink month, or the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we publish below a report on a study to show our readers that taking omega-3 fatty acids and reducing intake of vegetable oils may be a good thing for women to do to reduce the risk of breast cancer. 

One study, which was published in the Sep 28 2010 issue of the International Journal of Cancer suggests that a low ratio of omega- 6 fatty acids (n-6) to mega-3 fatty acids (n-3) is important in preventing breast cancer. 

For the study, Murff H.J and colleagues from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine analysed data from 72,571 cancer-free participants in Shanghai Women's Health Study who were followed for about 8 years. 

No association could be found between breast cancer risk and dietary intake of linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, alpha-linolenic acid or marine-derived n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFT). However the researchers did find a significant interaction between n-6 PUFT intake, marine-derived n-3 PUFT intake and breast cancer risk. 

Women who had a low intake of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids and a  high intake of omega-6 fatty acids were twice as likely to develop breast cancer compared with those who had high intake of marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids and low intake of omega-6 fatty acids. 

The researchers said the ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids is more important than individual fatty acids, when it comes to their effect on the risk of breast cancer. 

Nutrition experts said that the ratio for Americans, regarding the above mentioned fatty acids,  is more than 17, way too high from a nutritional point of view.   

Previous studies suggest that among those with cancer, the ratio should be lowered to less than 1.  That is why people who want to cut their risk of breast cancer need to increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil or oily fish and reduce intake of omega-6 fatty acids, which are largely found in vegetable oils like corn oil and soy bean oil. 

Susan G Komen for the Cure has been in existence for 28 years.  The organization has raised billions of dollars over the years for cancer research.  Despite this, breast cancer is still a major life-threatening disease for women.