Prostate Cancer And Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Last year the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial reported a surprising result. The authors reported that higher levels of DHA, which is one of the two omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish, were statistically correlated with the risk of high-grade prostate cancer in US men.

An article published by the DHA-EPA Omega-3 Institute titled " Blood Serum Levels of Omega-3 and Prostate Cancer " makes some interesting observations of this result.

• The high levels of DHA in US men that participated in the study actually are very low levels on a global standard. This is because US men typically eat very little fish, especially cold water fish like sardines and salmon. Compared to Japanese men who eat much more fish in their diet, the high DHA levels in the US study are very low.
  
• The intakes of fish or the intake of fish derived omega-3 fatty acids, which is DHA and EPA were not directly measured during the study.
• Many other studies that were designed to find any relationship between a fish diet and prostate cancer have found little relationship between the two. Other studies have found that a cold water fish diet actually had protective effects for total prostate cancer risks.
• The men in this study actually had very low levels of EPA. One conclusion might be that moderately elevated levels of DHA with low levels of EPA may be a risk of advanced prostate cancer. Moderate elevated levels of DHA with low levels of EPA is one result of low fish consumption. Cold water fish and fish oil supplements contain both DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids.
  

Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen in their article " Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer " make the point that this study shows only a statistical link between moderately elevated levels of DHA and prostate cancer and not a cause. This is not a cause-and-effect study. Both use an omega-3 supplement from marine algae.

The conclusion at the Harvard Health Publications in their article " Surprising findings on omega-3, trans fats, and prostate cancer risk don't warrant a change in diet " is that men should continue eating the recommended servings of cold water fish, which is at least two servings per week. Further they state that "Eating moderate amounts of wild salmon, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and other foods rich in omega-3s is a healthy strategy, Kennedy told me. The best “medicine” for men who are worried about their risk of prostate cancer is to maintain a healthy weight, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, and control stress. The good news is that taking these steps will promote heart health, too."

If you are worried about mercury in cold water fish, wild salmon, herring, sardines and shrimp are low in mercury. Canned chunk light tuna and cod have moderate amounts of mercury, but also have less omega-3 fatty acids. The cold water fish are also high in vitamin B-12 vitamin D and selenium, which promote good cardiovascular and prostate health. For further information see " Consumer Guide to Mercury in Fish ." If you are concerned about mercury, you can take an omega-3 supplement from marine algae.

It is also interesting that Alaska being a state that consumes more fish than other states also is one of the states that has the lowest prostate cancer rates in the US. And China and Japan also have some of the lowest rates for prostate cancer in the world while also consuming more fish than other nations, especially the US.

The net conclusion for men is to continue eating at least two servings each week of cold water fish or a high quality fish oil supplement as part of your health and fitness routine. The fish, however, gives you added nutrition as an excellent source or protein, vitamins B-12 and D and cancer fighting selenium.

Charles