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By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, March 8, 2007, abstracted from Blood Levels of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Aspirin, and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer” in the February 2007 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention
While best known for its ability to improve heart health, 1 the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) also extend to eye health2 and brain health in both children3 and adults. 4 It is believed that the primary mechanism by which O3FA’s bestow these health benefits lies in its anti-inflammatory properties through the inhibition of COX-2 enzymes 5 and increased eicosanoid production. 6
A recent study7 has now found that omega-3 fatty acids may also improve colon health and help in the fight against colorectal cancer.
In the study, researchers analyzed blood samples collected from the Physicians' Health Study.8 Specifically, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid levels were in 178 men who developed colorectal cancer and compared to 282 men without colorectal cancer.
While the researchers found that for men taking aspirin, O3FA blood levels did not significantly decrease colorectal cancer risk, significant risk reductions were seen in men not taking aspirin. Specifically, those with the highest 25% of blood levels of O3FA’s had a 40% reduced risk of colorectal cancer compared to those with the lowest 25% of blood levels of O3FA’s.
Since only blood levels of O3FA’s were measured, no intakes of O3FA’s could be recommended by the researchers for colon health. Nevertheless, “blood levels of long-chain n-3 fatty acids were associated with decreased risk of colorectal cancer among men not using aspirin.”
Reference:
1 Fish consumption and the risk of developing acute coronary syndromes: the CARDIO2000 study” in the July 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cardiology 2005; 102 (3): 403-409
2 Miljanovic B. Relation between dietary n–3 and n–6 fatty acids and clinically diagnosed dry eye syndrome in women. Am J Clin Nutr 2005 82: 887-893
3 Amminger GP. Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Children with Autism: A Double-blind Randomized, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study. Biol Psych 2006. In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 22 August 2006
4 Freund-Levi Y. Omega-3 Fatty Acid Treatment in 174 Patients With Mild to Moderate Alzheimer Disease: OmegAD Study: A Randomized Double-blind Trial. Arch Neurol 2006;63:1402-1408
5 Hamid R, Singh J, Reddy BS, Cohen LA. Inhibition by dietary menhaden oil of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in N-nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary tumors. Int J Oncol 1999;14:523–8
6 Larsson SC, Kumlin M, Ingelman-Sundberg M, Wolk A. Dietary long-chain n-3 fatty acids for the prevention of cancer: a review of potential mechanisms. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:935–45
7 Hall MN. Blood Levels of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Aspirin, and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007 16: 314-321
8 Physicians’ Health Study Website
9 Gill, C. I., A. Boyd, et al. (2005). "Potential anti-cancer effects of virgin olive oil phenols on colorectal carcinogenesis models in vitro." Int J Cancer 117(1): 1-7
10 Larsson SC. High-fat dairy food and conjugated linoleic acid intakes in relation to colorectal cancer incidence in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Am J Clin Nutr 2005 82: 894-900
11 Knock E. Low Dietary Folate Initiates Intestinal Tumors in Mice, with Altered Expression of G2-M Checkpoint Regulators Polo-Like Kinase 1 and Cell Division Cycle 25c. Cancer Res 2006 66: 10349-10356
12 Kaur M. Grape Seed Extract Inhibits In vitro and In vivo Growth of Human Colorectal Carcinoma Cells. Clin Cancer Res 2006 12: 6194-6202
13 Sanchez P. Combination Treatment with Curcumin and Quercetin of Adenomas in Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006 Aug; 4(8):1035-1038
Disclaimer: Claims made by NOW Foods for Omega-3 as a dietary supplement are regulated by the FDA, and any claims made in the above article are not made by NOW Foods. NOW makes no claims for the effect of Omega 3 on colorectal cancer risk.
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