Men worried about prostate cancer have been challenged by conflicting advice about fish oil. A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that men who had the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids from fish in their bloodstream seemed to have an elevated risk of prostate cancer.
Now a new study suggests that fish oil might actually be beneficial. Men with prostate cancer who adhered to a low-fat diet were given high doses of fish oil in supplement form. They had fewer markers of inflammation and lower cell cycle progression scores compared to men eating a high-fat Western diet without fish oil supplements.
The cell cycle progression score is a measurement that is used to predict prostate cancer recurrence. The lead investigator believes that a diet lower in omega-6 fats and higher in the omega-3 fats found in fish oil may have a beneficial impact upon the biology of prostate cancer.
[Cancer Prevention Research, Nov. 18, 2013]
It seems likely that this topic will require further research to determine the optimal diet to prevent prostate cancer or reduce the likelihood of recurrence. We recently discussed the cutting edge changes in diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer during our one-hour radio show (#921), Pushing the Envelope on Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, with Drs. Jay Cohen, Cary Robertson and Thomas Polascik.
