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Omega 3 Fish Oils Linked To Increased Prostate Cancer Risk

Source: Medical Daily

Eating a lot of oily fish or consuming omega supplements may not be good for a man's health. New research reveals that males with high blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. The finding comes from a large prospective study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. A 71 percent increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer and a 43 percent increase for all prostate cancers were associated with high concentrations of EPA, DHA, and DPA. These results are consistent with a 2011 study carried out by the same research team which found that high concentrations of DHA more than doubled the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. The researchers were shocked to find that higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, usually promoted as good for the heart, were associated with a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer. The consistency of these findings could mean that "these fatty acids are involved in prostate tumorigenesis and recommendations to increase long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake, in particular through supplementation, should consider its potential risks."

For years, omega 3 fish oils have been recommended by health organisations to help reduce heart disease. The paper's senior author and member of the Fred Hutch Public Health Sciences Division, Alan Kristal, Dr.P.H, said: "we've shown once again that use of nutritional supplements may be harmful." Theodore Brasky, Ph.D., a research assistant professor at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Cente, added, "What's important is that we have been able to replicate our findings from 2011 and we have confirmed that marine omega-3 fatty acids play a role in prostate cancer occurrence. It's important to note, however, that these results do not address the question of whether omega-3's play a detrimental role in prostate cancer prognosis." Dr. Iain Frame, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, says men reading about the results of this research should not panic about their omega-3 intake. Dr. Frame says: "Omega 3, such as is found in oily fish, has been the focus of a large amount of research in recent years, the majority of which points to it having wide-ranging health benefits when eaten as part of a balanced diet..." "Much larger and more complex studies will need to take place before we will fully understand how the risks of a diet high in Omega 3 balance against those benefits." Dr. Frame adds: "Therefore, we would not encourage".