Fish Oil Supplement May Help Prevent Cancer

After a large survey of post-menopausal women was conducted, it has been found that fish oil may guard against breast cancer. This was not a study to find concrete facts, however this new information will lead to an expansive study on the subject.

These findings were compiled over women surveyed from 2000 and 2002. Questions asked were regarding their diet, exercise program, supplements ingested, and their overall lifestyle. The survey included over 35,000 women who were between the ages of 50 and 76. These women did not have breast cancer when the surveys were completed.

The interesting finding was that the majority of these women took a fish oil supplement or ate a diet high in fish. Of the 35,000 women participating in the survey, 880 of these women developed breast cancer.

Scientists who studied and presented these surveys took into account that these 880 women may have other factors working against them, such as body weight and lifestyle.

Due to these findings, researchers at Harvard University are beginning a five year randomized trial of 20,000 people to see the effects of fish oil, as well as vitamin D on cancer risks and other illnesses.

The survey conducted also found no significant benefits of other supplements in regards to preventing cancer, such as grape seed, soy, St. John’s wort, garlic pills, ginseng or melatonin.

It is still unknown just how fish oil may prevent cancer. However, many researchers are leaning towards the benefits the fish oil has against inflammation, which is a key component in many types of cancer’s.