New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) has suggested that omega 3 fats do not protect against cancer but are protective of the heart. Researchers explained in the study, published in the British Journal of Cancer and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, that increased consumption of omega 3 fats is widely promoted globally because of a common belief that it will protect against, or even reverse, diseases such as cancer, heart attacks and stroke.
But the results of two systematic reviews have concluded that omega 3 supplements may slightly reduce coronary heart disease mortality and events, but slightly increase risk of prostate cancer. Both beneficial and harmful effects were noted as being small; if 1,000 people took omega 3 supplements for around four years, three people would avoid dying from heart disease, six people would avoid a coronary event (such as a heart attack) and three extra people would develop prostate cancer. The researchers looked at 47 trials involving adults who didn’t have cancer, who were at increased risk of cancer, or had a previous cancer diagnosis, and 86 trials with evidence on cardiovascular events or deaths. More than 100,000 participants were randomised to consume more long-chain omega 3 fats (fish oils), or maintain their usual intake, for at least a year for each of the reviews.
They studied the number of people who died, received a new diagnosis of cancer, heart attack or stroke and/or died of any of the diseases. Lead author, Dr Lee Hooper, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, commented: “These large systematic reviews included information from many thousands of people over long periods. This large amount of information has clarified that if we take omega 3 supplements for several years, we may very slightly reduce our risk of heart disease, but balance this with very slightly increasing our risk of some cancers. The overall effects on our health are minimal.
“The evidence on omega 3 mostly comes from trials of fish oil supplements, so health effects of oily fish, a rich source of long-chain omega 3, are unclear. Oily fish is a very nutritious food as part of a balanced diet, rich in protein and energy, as well as important micronutrients, such as selenium, iodine, vitamin D and calcium – it is much more than an omega 3 source. But we found that there is no demonstrable value in people taking omega 3 oil supplements for the prevention or treatment of cancer. In fact, we found that they may very slightly increase cancer risk, particularly for prostate cancer. However, this risk is offset by a small protective effect on cardiovascular disease.”
The research was funded by the World Health Organization (WHO).
