Omega-3 and Omega-6 May Protect Against Cancer, New Research Says

There are many factors that contribute to the complex process that causes cancer to develop, and nutrition is just one of them. But the numbers from these studies are large and worth examining to support your long-term health.

Study

Even though omegas are one of the most important dietary components and cancer is a leading cause of death, there hasn’t been much solid research on this connection.

Academics concluded in previously published overviews that “there is no convincing evidence for the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on any cancer risk.” The team at the University of Georgia said this “showed the limits of existing studies” and decided to do something about it.

Specifically, they took the UK Biobank registry and followed 250,000 participants and their blood levels of omega-3 and omega-6 for 10 years. About 30,000 people developed some form of cancer during that period.

Results

The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, found:

• A 3.63% increase in the body’s omega-6 levels was associated with a 2% reduction in overall cancer risk.
• A 1.55% increase in the body’s omega-3 levels was associated with a 1% reduction in overall cancer risk.
• Participants with higher omega-3 levels had lower rates of colon, stomach and lung cancer, as well as other digestive tract cancers.
• Those with higher omega-6 levels had lower rates of 14 different cancers, including brain, malignant melanoma, bladder and other site-specific cancers.
• The benefits of high levels of fatty acids did not depend on other risk factors such as BMI, alcohol use or physical activity.
• Prostate cancer was the only cancer associated with high omega-3 levels.
• A higher omega-6/omega-3 ratio was associated with an increased overall cancer risk.

What Does This Mean For Us?

All in all, this means that prioritizing omega intake should be one of the first steps towards improving your health and protecting your body.

“For women, it’s an easy decision: Eat more omega-3s,” said the study’s corresponding author, Kaixiong Ye. he said. But prostate risk makes it less straightforward for men, but we still don’t know enough about the connection. In general, omega-3 has been shown to have a more pronounced effect in men, while women are more affected by omega-6, so it’s really important not to cut it out.

Your best bet is to work on your omega ratio. Omega-6s are found in foods abundant in our diet, such as sunflower and vegetable oils, as well as nuts and seeds, which means we can easily fill up. Omega 3 is found mainly in fatty fish and at lower levels in some plant foods. Given that the UK has the lowest blood levels of omega-3 in the world, supplementing with omega-3 to redress the balance can improve your health.

In conclusion

Making sure you get enough healthy fats in your diet is important for overall health as well as reducing your risk of cancer. Make sure your fat comes from a variety of sources, including fish, nuts and seeds. If you are plant-based or find it difficult to eat the NHS recommended serving of fish per week, you can supplement with omega-3 or vegan omega-3 to maintain the balance. If you’re concerned about your daily diet or health risks, talk to a registered dietitian or healthcare professional.

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