There has recently been a surge in media coverage regarding a study that allegedly examined the effects of fish oil supplementation on prostate cancer expression. But quite to the contrary, the subjects in this study were not supplemented with fish oil or put on a fish-rich diet, which means that it is completely inappropriate to suggest fish-oil supplementation causes prostate cancer.
As the study authors explained, they did a blood test on 834 subjects who developed prostate cancer in the SELECT Trial and measured fatty acids in plasma phospholipids. After a blood draw, the fatty acids were measured as a percentage of total fatty acids in plasma phospholipids, and included omega-3, omega-6 and trans-fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). While the .04 percent increase in EPA levels and the .1 percent increase in DHA levels in prostate-cancer patients may be statistically significant, the clinical relevance of such small differences remains unknown and was not discussed in the study. Despite this unknown, news reports irresponsibly suggested that consuming fish and fish oil supplements may be a cause of prostate cancer and that men should be careful not to eat too much fish.
The more appropriate conclusion would be that since controls (study
subjects without prostate cancer) and prostate cancer patients have
nearly identical plasma phospholipid levels of omega-3 fatty acids, it
is not likely that an association between fatty acids and prostate
cancer can be identified in this study. Other dietary and lifestyle
factors are likely to be involved. Consider that prostate cancer is rare
in Inuit Eskimos, who consume a traditional diet that includes
extremely large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Unfortunately, the media scare about eating fish and taking fish oil has been pervasive. Why would the media be so irresponsible? It is either due to ignorance – or perhaps a new prostate cancer treating/preventing medication may be in the works. This notion may not be so far-fetched. Consider that statins are now often recommended as a preventive strategy for people with total cholesterol below 200 mg/dl.
Great info, Doc. Thanks for sharing, because, we eat a lot of Salmon. I'd had to think I'm causing the men in my life to get prostate cancer because I'm feeding them too much fatty acid. Hope to see you at church Sunday! Please pray for healing of my baby toe on my right foot. I'll explain later.
ReplyDeleteThey found that increased long chain fatty acids *in the blood*, of a type *like* those found in fish oils, were associated with higher levels of prostate cancer. They did NOT record whether the subjects were taking fish oil supplements. The press release was misleading, and of course the press instinctively made the situation worse by inventing this spurious connection. And by the way, there is no evidence whatsoever that fish oil supplements have any value at all.
ReplyDelete- James @ NYC Body