Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer Risk
Prostate cancer is the most common form of tumors worldwide. Each year approximately 400,00 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer. Do omega 3 fatty acids affect risk for prostate cancer? A study conducted and published in the Journal of Epidemiology yields some surprising results. Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center analyzed over 3400 men from 1994 to 2003 and their levels of both omega fatty acids and trans-fatty acids. Approximately half of the men had prostate cancer. The initial hypothesis of the researchers was that the higher the levels of omega-3 fatty acids, the lower the risk for prostate cancer.
The results of the study show omega-3 fatty acids have a possible link to causing prostate tumors. In this study participants who had high levels of omega-3 fatty acids had a 2.5 times greater risk of developing an aggressive prostate tumor.
“We were stunned to see these results and we spent a lot of time making sure the analyses were correct,” said lead researcher Theodore Brasky in a news release.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Chronic diseases
Typically, omega-3 fatty acids have been thought to have a positive impact on health, but research findings do not consistently confirm this. Do these fats reduce inflammation and help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis? Find out more on this subject here.
How to Decrease Risk of Prostate Cancer
Dietary factors have a huge impact on health. If you are concerned about prostate cancer risk, the following changes in your diet may help to decrease your risk.
- decrease or eliminate dairy products
- decrease or eliminate meats
- eliminate or decrease fats in the diet
- decrease spices in the diet
- decrease consumption of coffee (essential oils in coffee irritate the bladder and prostatic urethra (Pamplona-Roger, 2006)
- increase consumption of soy products (tofu especially)
- increase consumption of tomatoes and tomato products
- add nuts to the diet – contains vitamin E, zinc and selenium which prevent excess prostate growth
- increase fiber in the diet (plant-based foods)- prevents constipation (creates congestion in lower bowel which aggravates urinary disorders associated with prostatic growth [Pamplona-Roger, 2006]).
For more information on diet and prostate cancer click here.
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