A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids found in fish fat may protect men with prostate cancer from developing a more dangerous form of the disease.
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Omega 3 (Image: healthcastle) |
Prostate cancer can be life-threatening if tumor cells metastasize and invade other tissues, such as bone marrow. Laboratory tests have found that omega-3 fatty acids in fish fat can prevent this.
Researchers at the Paterson Institute in Manchester, England, tested the effects of two types of fats in the diet on prostate cancer cells. Previous studies have indicated that omega-3 fatty acids found in mackerel and tuna help reduce the risk of cancer—as well as other diseases like heart disease. Omega-6 fatty acids, present in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds, also play a crucial role in maintaining human health. However, while omega-6 fatty acids promote the spread of prostate cancer cells into the bone marrow, omega-3 fatty acids inhibit this process.
Researchers believe that tumor cells use omega-6 fatty acids as an energy source, while omega-3 fatty acids seem to interfere with this process in some way. Researcher Noel Clarke stated, “A balanced diet of omega-3 and omega-6 fats may help stabilize prostate cancer, making it easier to control or treat safely through surgery or radiation therapy.”
K.NHAT
