Friday, July 22, 2011

Fish oil linked to lower breast cancer risk

A typical softgelImage via WikipediaMillions of Americans already take fish oil to keep their hearts healthy and to treat ailments ranging from arthritis to depression. Now, a new study suggests that the supplements may also help women lower their risk of breast cancer.

Postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 76 who took fish oil were 32 percent less likely to develop certain types of breast cancer than women who didn't, the study found.

The researchers looked at 14 other popular supplements (including gingko biloba, black cohosh, soy, and St. John's wort), but only fish oil -- which contains concentrated amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon, tuna, and other fish -- had any connection to breast cancer risk.

Despite their findings, the researchers say it's too soon to recommend that women start taking fish oil to stave off breast cancer.

"People should try to achieve nutrients through a healthy diet, so eating fish is a better recommendation than fish oil," says the lead author of the study, Dr. Emily White, Ph.D, an epidemiologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle, Washington. "We think that fish oil is promising in terms of disease prevention, but it's not proven."

We already know that fish oil is good for so many things, so whether it is proven or not, you can improve your health by increasing your weekly omega 3 comsumption whether it helps prevent breast cancer or not. For me, I know that my weekly consumption of fish oil omega 3's has drastically reduced many of my menopausal symptoms particularly my hot flashes and night sweats, for that reason alone I'm sold. If the prevention of breast cancer is proven, that is icing on the cake!

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4 comments:

Robyn Michele Levy said...

It's vital that research continues into the benefit of fish oils. Maybe we'll know more information soon...so that the next generation, or the one after that, will be able to prevent breast cancer. I sure hope so.
Robyn Michele Levy,
http://robynlevygallery.wordpress.com

Robyn Michele Levy said...

It's vital that research continue to prevent breast cancer. Hopefully our daughters and their daughters will be able to dodge the breast cancer bullet.
Robyn Michele Levy
http://robynlevygallery.wordpress.com/

Robyn Michele Levy said...

It's vital that research continue to prevent breast cancer. Hopefully our daughters and their daughters will be able to dodge the breast cancer bullet.
Robyn Michele Levy
http://robynlevygallery.wordpress.com/

Joanne said...

I totally agree that fish oil is very useful to lower not only breast cancer risk but increase overall health