Fish Oil Supplements Linked to Lower Risk of Common Breast Cancer.

Up to 32% Reduced Risk Seen in Post-Menopausal Women was Found in Recent Study.

A new study suggests postmenopausal women who take fish oil supplements may reduce their breast cance.

Fifteen different supplement purported to have benefit were studied to see what health benefits they would impart on female subjects.   Only fish oils, which has high concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids, were seen to have any effect at all.

In the study, more than 35,000 Washington state women-all postmenopausal-between the ages of 50 and 76 responded to surveys about their use of "non-vitamin, non-mineral supplements." All were participants in the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort study, and none had a history of breast cancer.

After six years of follow up, 880 cases of breast cancer were identified.

Researchers found that the women who took the fish oil supplements had a 32 percent reduced risk of breast cancer, which appeared to be restricted to invasive ductal breast cancer, the most common type.

Though previous studies looking at fish consumption and breast cancer are inconsistent, this is the first study that suggested a connection between fish oil supplements and reduced breast cancer risk.

Prior research has suggested that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may be heart-healthy, as well as produce anti-inflammatory effects.  It is the latter that researchers speculate that provide the benefit in cancer risk reduction.

While there was no specific dose recommended, women in the study took an amount equal to a small serving of fish.

Researchers however, aren't recommending that fish oil supplements be taken for reducing breast cancer risk, and have issued a statement to not draw any conclusions about a causal relationship.  The study was "observational" only, and not a study designed to impart "causation" (i.e. taking fish oils doe not 'cause' risk reduction.  The study only found the link).  Thus these results may be due to "chance" only.

New research is about to start, however, with Harvard researchers enrolling participants to look at the impact of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D on the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke.

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