Can Omega-3 Reduce Risk of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer?
6-year study shows omega-3 reduces the risk
Can omega-3 reduce the risk of breast cancer? With breast cancer being the second most common form of cancer in women and the second leading cause of death among women, this would be welcome relief for the 191,410 women who are diagnosed each year.
Omega-3 Reduces Breast Cancer Risk
Eighty percent of all breast cancers are Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) making it the most common type of breast cancer. Emily White, Ph.D., is a member of the public health division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA and began a study on breast cancer years ago.
Six years ago Dr. White asked 35,016 postmenopausal women without a history of breast cancer about their supplement and vitamin usage. After six years, Dr. White followed up her study and discovered the women who used fish oil supplements had a 32% reduced risk of IDC.
The fish oil supplements didn't appear to have any effect on other types of breast cancer, but because IDC represents 80% of all breast cancer, this finding is important. Published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention Dr. White's study is the first to show the importance of reducing the risk of breast cancer with supplements.
Studies showing reduced risk of breast cancer by increasing fish oil intake by diet are inconsistent. This study is the first to show that women who increase omega-3 through food sources may or may not reduce their risk of cancer and shows women who take a quality omega-3 supplement had a consistent reduced risk of IDC.
Dr. White believes the key to reducing the risk of breast cancer with omega-3 is taking supplements. She states, 'It may be that the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil supplements are higher than most people would typically get from their diet.'
If you are interested in taking omega-3 supplements to reduce your risk of IDC breast cancer, talk to your doctor about this study. As always, take only purified omega-3 supplements to reduce your risk of contaminants.
