Cancer & Fish Oil Benefits

Thousands of scientific studies have focused on the benefits of fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA) for therapeutic value and for the prevention of cancer.  Here’s a quick look at just a few of the most recent ones. 

Nutritional Deficiencies

Nutrition plays a role in many complex diseases.  One of the therapeutic benefits of fish oil is to prevent nutritional deficiencies is people being treated for cancer.  This has been known for many years.  It is also known that omega-3 fatty acids suppress inflammatory responses, but the mechanism of action is not well understood. 

Inflammation Value of Fish Oil

One of the recent studies suggests that omega-3 reduces chronic inflammation and the cancer risk by modulating the activation of cells in the immune system, known as T-cells.  Researchers saw the biggest benefit when curcumin (a compound found in turmeric) was also included.  This study was performed using animal models. 

To date, most of the studies have been conducted using animal models or cell lines.  These studies provide information for doctors, so that they can make dietary recommendations for their patients.  Eating more fish is often recommended, but there is a need to select the fish species carefully, because of mercury contamination.

Contamination Danger
 
A recent study conducted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health indicates that salmon, herring and trout are good choices, while swordfish and shark are bad, because of high levels of mercury.  Flounder and canned light tuna are not highly beneficial because of their low omega-3 content.  The Environmental Defense Fund has also looked at this issue and published a list of good seafood selections and bad, along with the maximum amount that can safely be consumed on a monthly basis.  Mercury is not the only contaminant found in fish, today.  Cancer-causing DDT, dioxins and PCBs are also common contaminants.

Purification of Fish Oil is Crucial

The health benefits of fish oil for cancer prevention and in other areas might be outweighed by risk of consuming cancer-causing contaminants or toxic heavy metals, were it not for a process called molecular distillation.  With this purification method, contaminants can be reduced to the parts per billion or parts per trillion. 

Standards for testing for contaminants were developed by the Council for Responsible Nutrition.  The International Fish Oil Standards are even higher and some companies have specifications that exceed those.  The label or the company’s website should explain what standards the company abides by and what purification method they use. 

DHA & EPA

DHA is thought to be the most important omega-3, but a recent study of the benefits of fish oil in bladder cancer looked at only EPA, still a long-chain fatty acid, but slightly shorter.  The results of this study indicate that EPA has antioxidant activity and can actually kill bladder cancer cells.  This means that both EPA and DHA are important and the only good dietary source is fatty fish.

Some sources suggest flax seed oil for omega3 supplementation in vegans or strict vegetarians.  But flax seed provides only ALA, a different fatty acid and not as beneficial as omega3 found in fish oil.  Not all fish oil is the same.  For the very best fish oil in the world: 

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 CARDIOVASCULAR & Fish Oil Benefits