Go Fish! Types High in Fatty Acids May Prevent Prostate Cancer
Go Fish! Types High in Fatty Acids May Prevent Prostate Cancer
June 1, 2001 -- Fish that are high in fatty acids, such as mackerel, salmon or herring, may help prevent prostate cancer, according to a large study of Swedish men in the June edition of the British medical journal TheLancet.
"The main message is to eat more fatty fish," says co-author Alicja Wolk, DMSC. "Eating fatty fish reduces risk of prostate cancer by about 70%, compared to not eating it, and reduces the risk for death from the disease by about 50%." Wolk is a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.
The study was an epidemiologic investigation, which looks at the occurrence of disease in a large population of people. The researchers followed 6,272 Swedish male twins for 30 years, examining lifestyle factors -- including diet -- and drawing associations with the risk for prostate cancer.
They found that men who consumed moderate to high amounts of fatty fish were two-to-three times less likely to develop prostate cancer than men who did not, according to the report.
Because all the men in the study were twin pairs, the researchers were able to adjust their findings to account for genetic factors. And the findings remained consistent despite other potential risk factors for prostatecancer, such as smoking and alcohol use.
The bottom line: fatty fish consumption is a powerful determinant of disease, Wolk says.
Wolk says the study contributes to accumulating evidence that the fatty acids present in fish protect against prostate cancer. Previous studies measuring the amount of fatty acids in blood have indicated that men with higher concentrations were less likely to get prostate cancer, she says.
She notes that in addition to the fatty acids, fish are a rich source of vitamins and selenium, a mineral believed to have "antioxidant" effects, preventing the oxidation of cells in the progression of cancer. "So the beneficial effects of fish may be due to a combination of all of these factors," Wolk tells WebMD.
And Wolk adds that there is accumulating evidence that the fatty oils in fish may also be good for preventing heart disease and stroke.
Go Fish! Types High in Fatty Acids May Prevent Prostate Cancer
June 1, 2001 -- Fish that are high in fatty acids, such as mackerel, salmon or herring, may help prevent prostate cancer, according to a large study of Swedish men in the June edition of the British medical journal TheLancet.
"The main message is to eat more fatty fish," says co-author Alicja Wolk, DMSC. "Eating fatty fish reduces risk of prostate cancer by about 70%, compared to not eating it, and reduces the risk for death from the disease by about 50%." Wolk is a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.
The study was an epidemiologic investigation, which looks at the occurrence of disease in a large population of people. The researchers followed 6,272 Swedish male twins for 30 years, examining lifestyle factors -- including diet -- and drawing associations with the risk for prostate cancer.
They found that men who consumed moderate to high amounts of fatty fish were two-to-three times less likely to develop prostate cancer than men who did not, according to the report.
Because all the men in the study were twin pairs, the researchers were able to adjust their findings to account for genetic factors. And the findings remained consistent despite other potential risk factors for prostatecancer, such as smoking and alcohol use.
The bottom line: fatty fish consumption is a powerful determinant of disease, Wolk says.
Wolk says the study contributes to accumulating evidence that the fatty acids present in fish protect against prostate cancer. Previous studies measuring the amount of fatty acids in blood have indicated that men with higher concentrations were less likely to get prostate cancer, she says.
She notes that in addition to the fatty acids, fish are a rich source of vitamins and selenium, a mineral believed to have "antioxidant" effects, preventing the oxidation of cells in the progression of cancer. "So the beneficial effects of fish may be due to a combination of all of these factors," Wolk tells WebMD.
And Wolk adds that there is accumulating evidence that the fatty oils in fish may also be good for preventing heart disease and stroke.
