Nutraceutical: Omega 3 fatty acids

Indication: Colon cancer

Source: American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference, December 2009.

Research: Although experimental and clinical data suggest that long-chain omega 3 fatty acids possess anti-neoplastic properties in the colon, epidemiologic data to date have been inconclusive. Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences studied the link between polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and distal large bowel cancer using data from a population-based control study. They recruited 1509 white participants (716 cancer cases and 787 controls) and 369 black participants (213 cancer cases and 156 controls) using the State Cancer Registry and Division of Motor Vehicles records. Nineteen polyunsaturated fatty acids were assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, which included 124 questions on food items. The researchers used the questionnaire to collect information on the frequency and amount of foods typically consumed in the past 12 months.

Results: Patients who consumed more long-chain omega 3 fatty acids had a reduced risk of distal large bowel cancer. Compared to the lowest quartile, fat intake in the highest quartile was linked with a 39% reduced risk of cancer. Researchers detected these associations in white participants, but not in black participants. They were unable to explain the differences among races—cautioning against drawing conclusions—but indicated the findings warrant future study. However, researchers still concluded that an increase in dietary intake of long-chain omega 3 fatty acids, which mainly come from fish and seafood, might be beneficial in the prevention of distal large bowel cancer.