A diet rich in healthy fats may protect against cancer

CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 9, 2024 – Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may prevent a variety of cancers, new research shows. The study published online Oct. 7, 2024 in the International Journal of Cancer analyzed data from more than 250,000 people and compared levels of those two fatty acids in people who developed cancer and those who didn’t.

Led by Yuchen Zhang a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia, the researchers looked at the diets of people whose data had been collected in the UK Biobank, a database of health records including environmental, lifestyle and genetic data collected from questionnaires, blood and tissue samples and genetic studies. The researchers compared the blood levels of omega-3 and omega-6 in the 30,000 participants who had developed cancer and those participants who did not have cancer.

“Higher omega-3 and omega-6 levels were associated with lower rates of cancer,” said Zhang in a press release. “These findings suggest that the average person should focus on getting more of these fatty acids in their diets.”

Omega-3 and omega-6 are polyunsaturated fatty acids  that lower cholesterol, and are essential for such things ad brain cell development and heart health. Earlier studies of these fats have been inconclusive, some showing a protective effect, others found little to no protection from cancer.

In this study people with higher levels of these fatty acids had lower rates of colon, stomach, and other digestive cancers, as well as lower rates of lung, brain, skin and bladder cancers. In all the higher levels of omega fatty acids were associated with lower rates of 19 types of cancer.

These "healthy fats" are found in fatty fish, such as salmon, nuts, and some plant oils such as canola, as well as foods such as tofu, walnuts, flax and chia seeds. Since many Americans don’t eat a lot of foods rich in omega-3 and -6, they often take fish oil supplements, but the researchers warn that fish oil pills should be taken with caution. In their study the researchers found that high levels of omega-3 was associated with a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer. 

“For women, it’s an easy decision: Eat more omega-3,” said Kaixiong Ye, co-author of the study and an associate professor in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

The researchers also saw a stronger beneficial effect of omega-6 in younger participants, particularly women.

Sources: University of Georgia press release and International Journal of cancer