United States: A new study has revealed that, the fish oil supplements containing omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may guard people from cancer.
Key Findings
Sufferers of colon, gastric, lung and any cancer related to the digestive system could possibly have lesser instances of such diseases if their omega-3 level is low, as determined by the researchers.
Similarly, high levels of omega-6 were associated with reduced incidence of fourteen different types of cancer including brain, melanoma, bladder, etc, the result indicated, as reported by HealthDay.
Encouraging Daily Intake
“That means that the average person should try to consume more of these fatty acids within their day to day meals,” explains lead author and doctoral student Yuchen Zhang, College of Public Health, University of Georgia.
Study Methodology
Data for the study was obtained from the UK Biobank research project, which enrolled more than 253,000 participants. Participants completed food frequency questionnaires within that project, and researchers followed their health outcomes over several decades.
Out of these people, 30,000 people were diagnosed with some type of cancer, the researchers added.
In more detail, the advantage of high levels of fatty acids was not dependent on other factors that might contribute to cancer, such as BMI, alcohol intake, or physical activity.
These fatty acids are found to be obtained from fats from sources like fatty fish, nuts, and plant-based cooking oils – a host of individuals, however, indulge in fish oil supplements to ensure they meet their requirements.
However, the effects of these fatty acids are not positive for everybody. Moreover, The researchers stated that increased levels of omega-3 were linked with the risk of contracting prostate cancer slightly, as reported by HealthDay.
A Note of Caution for Men
“For women, it’s an easy decision: Eat more omega-3,” researcher Kaixiong Ye, an associate professor in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, said in a university news release.