Omega-3s from fish is better than flaxseed and other oils for cancer prevention, according to a first-ever University of Guelph study. Prof. David Ma has discovered that marine-based omega-3s are eight times more effective at inhibiting tumour development and growth. This study is the first to compare the cancer-fighting potency of plant- versus marine-derived omega-3s on breast tumour development.
There is evidence that both omega-3s from plants and marine sources are protective against cancer and we wanted to determine which form is more effective. There are three types of omega-3 fatty acids : a-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is plant-based and found in such edible seeds as flaxseed and in oils, such as soy, canola and hemp oil. EPA and DHA are found in marine life, such as fish, algae and phytoplankton.
The study involved feeding the different types of omega-3s to mice with a highly aggressive form of human breast cancer called HER-2. HER-2 affects 25per cent of women and has a poor prognosis. Researchers exposed the mice to either the plant-based or the marine-based omega-3s, beginning in utero. The mice were exposed to the different omega-3s even before tumours developed, which allowed comparing how effective the fatty acids are at prevention.
EPA and DHA can inhibit breast tumour growth, but no one has looked directly at how effective these omega-3s are compared to ALA, exposure to marine-based omega-3s reduced the size of the tumours by 60 to 70 per cent and the number of tumours by 30 per cent. However, higher doses of the plant-based fatty acid were required to deliver the same impact as the marine-based omega-3s.
Omega-3s prevent and fight cancer by turning on genes associated with the immune system and blocking tumour growth pathways. Humans should consume two to three servings of fish a week to have the same effect. Besides certain foods containing EPA and DHA, supplements and functional foods, such as omega-3 eggs or DHA milk, can offer similar cancer prevention effects.
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