Is There An Omega 3 – Prostate Cancer Link? Or Do Omega 3 Fats Help Protect Against Prostate Cancer?

Should you be taking more Omega 3 fish oils to help guard against prostate problems?

I know all about prostate cancer, my dad had it and therefore I’m genetically predisposed to prostate cancer. And I’ve had all the tests, but don’t have it yet.

But studies are now suggesting that it may be possible to help prevent or slow prostate cancer by diet, and also by increasing our intake of Omega 3 fatty acids, primarily found in fish.

As with all these things it’s difficult to say when something is sufficiently proven, but lets say to date there have been some promising results from the studies. There are now clear fish oil prostate links that are showing up in the studies.

In one study it was found that if mice that were genetically engineered with a defect that caused prostate cancer and they were fed a diet high in Omega 3 fatty acids their survival and resistance to prostate cancer were enhanced.

There have been a number of studies showing a prostate Omega 3 link, some of them can be read at Science Daily. One study even suggested a link between fish oil and prostate cancer in it’s more advanced form.

This is excellent news, not just for me, but for all men. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed form of cancer and is the leading cause of death in men in the US.

Why is it considered that there is a strong fish oil and prostate cancer prevention link? One explanation is to do with inflammation. Most men, with advancing age, get inflammation of the prostate. It may not be serious itself but may be a precursor to prostate cancer.

And Omega 3 fats are known to be one of the best anti inflammatories that exist. Often Aspirin is used as an anti inflammatory, with some negative side effects. Fish oils, or at least the 2 primary Omega 3 fats found in fish oils, DHA and EPA, are excellent anti inflammatories, better than Aspirin by far. And with positive, not negative side effects. That’s why it’s thought that Omega 3s are good for Arthritis too.

And that fish oils can help inhibit the production of prostaglandins, one of the hormones our body produces known to produce inflammatory effects.

There is also epidemiological evidence showing a prostate Omega 3 link.  It is known that societies with a high level of Omega 3 intake, in other words societies where a lot of fish is eaten, have a lower incidence of prostate cancer.

So if you’re worried about your prostate, fish oil may be beneficial. And there’s more than just fish oil, studies also suggest that all things we should avoid, like highly processed foods, may also promote prostate cancer, and that all the things we should eat, like fresh fruit and vegetables with lots of good anti oxidants, help prevent prostate disease.

In other words, the Western diet isn’t good for your prostate. Read the rest of this entry