A series of studies and research projects strongly suggest the beneficial effects of omega 3 fatty acids to prevent- or even reverse the progression of certain types of cancer.
Omega 3 appears to be especially effective in the combat of the following types of cancer:
* Breast Cancer
* Colon Cancer
* Prostate Cancer
Breast Cancer:
An article published in the journal Breast Cancer Research points out that omega 3 could be combined with a commonly used anesthetic to develop drugs to treat breast cancer. It was mentioned that Omega-3 fatty acids and propofol reduce the ability of breast cancer cells to develop into malignant tumors.
Propofol is a strong anti-oxidant that inhibits cancer cell migration by about 5-10%. However, propofol combined with DHA or EPA (two types of omega 3 fatty acids) showed a much more significant effect on cancer cell migration, which was about 50%.
These studies strongly suggest that the propofol-DHA and propofol-EPA conjugates may be useful for the treatment of breast cancer.
These findings also support the theory that women who regularly consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids over many years may be less likely to develop breast cancer. Also, the balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids seems to play an important role in the development of breast cancer.
Colon Cancer:
A diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids appears to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids prevent worsening of colon cancer while omega-6 fatty acids rather promote the growth of colon cancer.
Other studies even pointed out that a daily consumption of EPA and DHA might slow down or even reverse the progression of colon cancer at an early stage of the disease. The finding that Eskimos, who eat significant amounts of fish rich in omega-3, have a very low rate of colorectal cancer further support these findings.
Prostate Cancer:
Several studies and research experiments point out that omega-3 fatty acids (especially EPA and DHA) may inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. Also, population based studies indicate that a low-fat diet with the addition of omega-3 fatty acids help prevent this disease. Again, the balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty seems to play an important role for reducing the risk of prostate cancer.
