After analyzing the data from 21 studies which examined the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid consumption from a host of marine sources and breast cancer in 883,585 women, researchers at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, concluded that taking 100mg of the fishy stuff daily slashed women’s likelihood of developing breast cancer by 5%. Those who consumed the highest levels of the fatty acid were 14% less likely to be diagnosed with the disease than those who took in the least amount, although this figure doesn’t specify the amount or fish oil source. Plant and marine-based omega-3s have a plethora of superpowers, from anti-aging effects to bad cholesterol-combating abilities, but as far as breast cancer is concerned, ground-derived versions don’t make the grade. Fish-based types of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were associated with reduced risk of breast cancer, although a third type, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and a plant-based type, alpha linolenic acid (ALA), did not seem to have an effect. The researchers haven’t pinpointed the process that enables marine n-3 PUFAs to stem cancer growth, but suspect that the fatty acids either block ecosanoid, a lipid that plays a supporting role in cancer and tumor growth, or promote the health of tumor suppressors and oncogenes, certain genes that can grow into tumors. Other leading breast cancer research bodies agree omega-3 fatty acids play a role in warding off the disease. “This is really important research,” says Chandini Portteus, Susan G. Komen’s chief mission officer. “We have funded close to $8 million specifically to research omega-3s. The evidence in the biology and function is there.” Your best bet for reeling in post-menopausal breast benefits is to take a daily supplement that delivers 100 mg of the fishy fatty acids, since the study found no clear connection between fish intake and chance of breast cancer development. Pollutants in fish flesh, like organometallics and pesticides, could blunt the shielding effects of the fatty acids, wrote lead researcher Duo Li, PhD, professor of nutrition in the department of food science and nutrition at Zhejiang University. Whether or not you choose to load up on fish oil tablets, leading a healthy lifestyle and talking to your doctor about your personal risk for breast cancer is key. “Everyone is at a different risk for breast cancer. Some people have family history or genetic components that put them at greater risk,” says Portteus. “Know your risk, and know what healthy behaviors are for you—preventing breast cancer is much bigger than an omega-3 pill.”
