You Need To Know: Higher Intake Of Fish Oil Linked To A Lower Risk Of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has been dubbed a "silent killer" of women
because it is often diagnosed too late.
The disease accounted for 23 percent of total cancer cases
among women and 14 percent of cancer death
s in 2008, according to the figures in a study.
Eating a portion of tuna, salmon, sardines or other oily fish
once or twice a week reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Chinese researchers looked at 26 previously published studies
covering more than 800,000 volunteers in the United States,
Europe and Asia whose health was monitored and who gave
details about their eating habits.
They found that a higher intake of fish oil, but not
necessarily fish itself, appears to be linked to a lower risk of
breast cancer later in life. Specifically, they found that a high
intake of fatty acids found in fish oil was associated with a 14
percent reduced risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal
women.
The group of n-3 PUFAs has four members, known by their
initials of EPA, DPA and DHA, which are mainly found in
oily fish, and ALA, which is chiefly found in nuts, seeds and
leafy vegetables.
The analysis showed that women with a high intake of n-3
PUFAs had a 14-percent reduction in risk of breast cancer
compared with those who had a low intake.
But the protective effect came only for fatty acids that come
chiefly from fish, and not for ALA acids.
Those who showed the most benefit were women in Asia,
whose diet was richer in fish than in Europe and America.
Oily fish is rich in so-called n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids,
or n-3 PUFAs, which are involved in the immune system,
blood-vessel activity and chemical messaging in the brain.
One thing you need to know is that increasing intake/
including oily fish in your diet is good for you, you might
even be doing yourself some good- recommended by
nutritionists.
Dr. Kathy Helzlsouer, breast cancer expert and director of the
Center for Prevention and Research at Mercy Health Services
in Baltimore, Md., said she believes the best, and perhaps
tastiest option to achieve the benefits of fatty acids found in
fish is to eat more oily fish.
"I usually recommend consumption of fish rather than
supplements," she said. "I believe fish consumption is a
healthy part of the diet and I have recommended it."
In statistical terms, every 0.1-gramme increase in fish fatty
acids per day was linked to a five-percent reduction in breast
cancer risk.
As a guide for daily living, one or two portions of oily fish per
person per week is healthy.
Here are a few tips women should consider to reap the possible
benefits of fish oil:
• Nutritionists suggest one to two servings per week of oily
fish like salmon, sardines or tuna;
• If you're not a fan of fish, taking a daily fish oil
supplement might not be a bad idea;
• The two important omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
found in fish are: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Try to look for these if you decide
to go with a fish oil supplement.