Omega-3 for breast cancer?
March 13, 2013
OMEGA-3 fish oil may inhibit the
growth of breast cancer by 30%,
according to a new study published
by Canada's University of Guelph.
Published recently in the Journal
of Nutritional Biochemistry, the
study is believed to be the first to
provide unequivocal evidence that
omega-3s reduce cancer risk.
During the study researchers
created a novel transgenic mouse
that both produced omega-3 fatty
acids and develops aggressive
mammary tumours.
The team compared those
animals to mice genetically
engineered only to develop the
same tumours.
“This model provides a purely
genetic approach to investigate the
effects of lifelong omega-3s
exposure on breast cancer
development,” said Professor David
of Guelph’s Department of Human
Health and Nutritional Sciences,
and one of the study’s authors.
“To our knowledge, no such
approach has been used previously
to investigate the role of omega-3s
and breast cancer,” Professor David
added.
Results of the study found that
mice producing omega-3s
developed only two-thirds as many
tumours — and tumours were also
30-per-cent smaller — as the
control mice did.
“The difference can be solely
attributed to the presence of
omega-3s in the transgenic mice —
that’s significant,” Professor Ma
said.
“The fact that a food nutrient can
have a significant effect on tumour
development and growth is
remarkable and has considerable
implications in breast cancer
prevention,” Ma added.
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