Fish oil reduces the risk of prostate cancer

Fish oil may protect men from the risk of death from prostate cancer, a study indicates.

Researchers found that taking 1 dose of omega-3 fatty acids, or fish oil in herring, salmon, and mackerel, could reduce the risk of developing cancer by about 60%. It also works for carriers who increase the risk of prostate cancer (People with COX-2 genes are five times more likely to develop prostate cancer than non-carriers).

The study compared the diet of 466 men with the disease to 478 healthy men. They found that people who regularly eat omega-3-rich fatty fish, 1-3 times a month, have a 36% lower risk of prostate cancer than those who never eat these fish. Adding fish oil once a week will be even more effective, reducing the risk by up to 57%.

Apart from fatty fish, oysters can be eaten. This soft-shelled animal is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The lead researcher, Professor John Witte of the University of California (San Francisco, USA), said: 'People with COX-2 genes can reduce their risk of getting sick if they drink half a gram of fish oil every day'.

According to the scientists' explanation, omega-3 fatty acids help prevent prostate cancer through anti-inflammatory ability. There is much evidence that infection affects cancer risk. Infections are not 'reacted' by the immune system, which may be affected by diet, infection and genes.

These findings are published in the Cancer Research journal.