Prostate Cancer and Fish Oil By: Mark H. Ratner, MD; Medical Director Theralogix, LLC The media has widely publicized a recent study claiming that omega-3 fish oil increases the risk of prostate cancer (PCa). Although this study has gotten a lot of attention, its conclusions conflict with most of the published evidence, which demonstrates clear benefits from omega-3s for heart, prostate, and overall health. Omega-3 fats are polyunsaturated fats that cannot be manufactured by the body and therefore must be consumed through food or supplements. Scientific research has shown that omega-3 fish oils decrease the risk of heart disease, as well as the number of deaths from heart disease and all other causes.1-3 Omega-3s have also been shown to decrease the risk of ischemic stroke and blood clots, decrease serum triglyceride levels, slightly lower blood pressure, decrease inflammation, and enhance the effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering medications (statins).4-11 Many studies have shown that omega-3s have benefit for prostate health as well: • A 2010 meta-analysis found a significant 63% reduction in PCa mortality with fish intake, though no effect on incidence.12 • A 2011 randomized controlled trial demonstrated reduced PCa cell proliferation in men treated with fish oil supplements.13 • In a 2007 study, men with the highest ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s had the lowest Gleason scores.14 • In the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, men with highest vs. lowest fish intake had the lowest risk of PCa progression.15 • In the NIH-AARP study, fish and omega-3 dietary intake was inversely associated with fatal PCa, and in a cohort study of nearly 48,000 men, EPA and DHA omega-3 intakes were associated with lower total and advanced PCa risk.16,17 • A recent population cohort of 525 Swedish men with PCa found that those with the highest DHA and total marine omega-3 intakes were 40% less likely to die from PCa.18 • Omega-3s have been shown to slow the growth and spread of PCa cells in the lab, and a higher omega-3 to omega-6 ratio may enhance the efficacy of hormone ablation therapy.19,20 • Additional studies suggest that anti-inflammatory effects, induction of cell apoptosis, and other mechanisms may underlie the benefits for prostate tissue.21 The recently published case-cohort study of men from the SELECT trial found that higher plasma omega-3 was associated with increased risk of low-grade, high-grade, and total PCa, while higher omega-6 was associated with reduced risk of low-grade and total PCa.22 They referenced their own prior research from the PCa Prevention Trial, which found increased risk of high-grade PCa with serum DHA omega-3, but decreased risk with trans fats. The abstract acknowledged that “The study results are contrary to those expected…” 23 In conclusion, we view this study’s conclusions as simply wrong. It is an outlier – and an excellent example of the old adage – “if you torture the data hard enough, it will confess to anything.” References 1. [PubMed Abstract] Jacobson. Am J Cardiol. 2006; 98(4A):61i-70i. 2. [PubMed Abstract] Psota et al. Am J Cardiol. 2006; 98(4A):3i-18i.. 3. [PubMed Abstract] Wang et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 84(1):5-17. 4. [PubMed Abstract] He et al. Stroke. 2004; 35(7):1538-42. 5. [PubMed Abstract] Bouzan et al. Am J Prev Med. 2005; 29(4):347-52. 6. [PubMed Abstract] Robinson and Stone. Am J Cardiol. 2006; 98(4A):39i-49i. 7. [PubMed Abstract] Schwellenbach et al. J Am Coll Nutr. 2006; 25(6):480-5. 8. [PubMed Abstract] Cicero et al. Clin Exp Hypertens. 2010; 32(2):137-44. 9. [PubMed Abstract] Kris-Etherton et al. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2003; 23(2):151-2. 10. [PubMed Abstract] Kris-Etherton et al. Circulation. 2001; 103(7):1034-9. 11. [PubMed Abstract] Nambi and Ballantyne. Am J Cardiol. 2006; 98(4A):34i-38i. 12. [PubMed Abstract] Szymanski et al. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010; 92(5):1223-33. 13. [PubMed Abstract] Aronson et al. Cancer Prev Res(Phila). 2011; 4(12):2062-71.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 16:39:39 +0000
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