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Fish Oil May Protect
Against Breast/Prostate Cancers
Fish Oil Helps Prevent Prostate Cancer
Based on several successful studies it is now believed that an inverse relationship exists between blood levels of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) - both found in high concentrations in fish oil - and the risk of getting prostate cancer. In a recent study conducted by medical researchers at the Karolinska Institute also confirm that high levels of fish oils and related compounds in the blood are inversely related to the risk of acquiring prostate cancer.
The Karolinska study was carried out using over 3000 pairs of male twins born between 1886 and 1925 that were studied over a 30 year period. Of the participants 466 were diagnosed with with prostate cancer. After performing a thorough evaluation of those who acquired cancer and reviewing detailed food questionaires the researchers concluded that men who never eat fish are 2 to 3 times more likely to get prostate cancer than men who eat fish on regular basis. The researchers also concluded that fatty fish such as salmon, herring and mackerel, which have high levels of both EPA and DHA are the only fish that effectively prevent the development of prostate cancer.
Fish Oil And Other Cancers
Several studies have established a strong association between high comsumption of fat and risk of developing breast cancer. The association appears to be strongest in the case of animal fat consumption. One study foudn that fish oil supplementation can protect against colon cancer in men but has no effect on mortality from breast cancer. However, some researchers report that fish oil not only protects against colon cancer in men, but also against breast cancer in women in areas of the world where the dietary consumption of animal fats is high. It seems apparent to researchers that fish oil helps to prevent cancers in that it counteracts the negative effects of fat consumption. In other words, fish oils protect against cancer individuals that high a high dietary fat intake.
A separate study compared cancer mortality rates in over 20 European countries, Canada and the United States relative to the consumption of fish and animal fats. In countries where consumption of animal fat was high researcher where able to establish an inverse relationship between the amount of fish fat to animal fat consumption and the risk of developing colon cancer in both men and women and breast cancer in women. Researcher also concluded that a 15% decrease in the dietary animal fat consumption coupled with a 300% increase in fish oil supplementation would likely reduce the risk of colon cancer in men by 30% which could be acheived by eating fish three times a week or by taking 2 fish oil capsules daily.
A number of references in this text were taken from the following sources:
Terry, Paul, et al. Fatty fish consumption and risk of prostate cancer. The Lancet, Vol. 357, June 2, 2001, pp. 1764-66
Caygill, C.P.J., et al. Fat, fish, fish oil and cancer. British Journal of Cancer, Vol. 74, No. 1, July 1996, pp. 159-64
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"Since I started supplementing with high-dose fish oil nearly 8 months ago my skin has not been nearly so dry, my allergies have almost entirely gone away and my general health appears to be improving."
"After one month of taking fish oil, my husband starting noticing positive changes in the texture of his hair, and his blood sugar levels were dramatically stabilizing, as he is a type 1 diabetic (for the past 27 years)."
"I've never been much of a believer in supplements. However, after repeated invitations from my wife I started taking Omega 3 Fish Oil. Consequently, my cholesteral levels have improved and I've never felt so healthy."