Omega-3 and 6 Linked to Lower Cancer Risk – Neuroscience News

Summary: High levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are associated with a reduced risk of several types of cancer, including brain, colon, colon and lung cancer, according to a study of more than 250,000 participants. Studies highlight the ability of these “healthy fats” to prevent cancer, regardless of BMI or lifestyle.

The study also suggests that the benefits of omega-6 are more effective in young adults, especially women. The results open the door to dietary changes that could help reduce cancer risk.

Important Points

• High levels of omega-3 are associated with lower rates of colon, rectal and lung cancer.
• Omega-6 was associated with a reduced risk of 14 cancers, including melanoma and brain cancer.
• The benefits remained consistent regardless of factors such as BMI, alcohol consumption, or physical activity.

Source: University of Georgia

In addition to lowering your cholesterol, keeping your brain healthy and improving mental health, new research from the University of Georgia suggests that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids it can help prevent various types of cancer.

The study relied on data from more than 250,000 people and found that high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are associated with a lower risk of cancer.

“Higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 were associated with lower rates of cancer,” said Yuchen Zhang, the study’s lead author and a doctoral student in UGA’s College of Public Health.

“These findings suggest that the average person should focus on getting these fatty acids in their diet.”

Participants with higher levels of omega-3s had lower rates of stomach, colon and lung cancer, in addition to lower rates of other types of digestive cancer.

High levels of omega-6 have been linked to lower rates of 14 types of cancer, including brain, malignant melanoma, bladder and others.

Healthy fats reduce the risk of 19 types of cancer

The study was based on data from a study based in the United Kingdom of more than 250,000 people who were followed for more than ten years. Of those participants, about 30,000 developed another type of cancer during the study period.

Some earlier studies made connections between fatty acid levels and cancer risk. However, no studies can definitively determine whether omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids reduce the risk of cancer or increase the chance of surviving a cancer diagnosis.

Importantly, the benefits of high levels of saturated fat were independent of other risk factors such as BMI, alcohol consumption or physical activity.

Fish oil supplements come with various health benefits

Known as “healthy fats,” omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential for human health. They are found in fatty fish, nuts and even vegetable oils such as canola oil.

But many Americans probably don’t eat enough of these foods to reach the recommended amount.

That’s why many people turn to fish oil supplements. It is one of the most popular diet pills on the market and for good reason.

Previous studies show that omega-3 supplements can reduce the risk of high cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

The benefits of fish oil may not be one-size-fits-all

But deciding to take popular fish oil pills is not enough.

In the current study, for example, researchers found that high levels of omega-3 may be associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer.

“For women, it’s an easy decision: Eat more omega-3s,” said Kaixiong Ye, corresponding author of the study and associate professor at UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

The researchers also saw a stronger effect of omega-6 in younger participants, especially women.

Published in the International Journal of Cancer, the study was co-authored by Yitang Sun, a medical expert in UGA’s genetics program, and Suhang Song and Ye Shen, of UGA’s College of Public Health. Other authors include Nikhil Khankari and Thomas Brenna.

About this brain cancer research news

Author: Savannah Peat
Source: University of Georgia
Contact: Savannah Peat – University of Georgia
Image: Image credited to Neuroscience News

Basic research: Open access.
“Associations of plasma omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids with overall and 19 site-specific cancers: A UK Biobank cohort study” by Yuchen Zhang et al. International Journal of Cancer

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Summary

Associations of plasma omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids with overall and 19 site-specific cancers: A population-based cohort study in the UK Biobank.

Previous epidemiological studies on the relationship between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and cancer incidence were inconsistent.

We investigated the relationship of plasma omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs with overall and 19 specific cancers in a large prospective cohort. 253,138 eligible UK Biobank participants were included in our study. During a mean follow-up of 12.9 years, 29,838 participants were diagnosed with cancer.

Plasma levels of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA were expressed as a percentage of total fatty acids (omega-3% and omega-6%). In our primary models, both omega-6% and omega-3% were associated with overall cancer incidence (HR with SD = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.96-0.99; HR with SD = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.97–1.00 ; respectively).

Of the 19 specific types of cancer found, 14 were associated with omega-6% and five with omega-3%, all showing different associations, except that cancer of bladder was associated with omega-3% (HR per SD = 1.03). , 95% CI = 1.01–1.05).

Our UK Biobank population-based cohort study shows small inverse associations of plasma omega-6 and omega-3 PUFAs with overall cancer incidence and cancer size, although there are notable exceptions, such as prostate cancer.