Breast cancer affects as many as one out of eight American women in their lifetime, according to Breastcancer.org. In 2010, approximately 2.5 million women in the United States were breast cancer survivors. Fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids, which may have several health benefits for breast cancer survivors, although more studies are needed. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and have antioxidant properties. Always ask your doctor before adding dietary supplements to your health regimen.
Reducing the Risk of Recurrence
A report published by researchers from the University of California, San Diego in the February 2011 issue of "The Journal of Nutrition" studied the effects of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil on breast cancer recurrence in survivors treated for early breast cancer. The study, which lasted on average for 7.3 years of follow up, used self-reported dietary recall to assess omega-3 fatty acid intake. women with the highest intake of omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA reduced their risk of recurrence by 25 percent. Researchers concluded that increased dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids could reduce breast cancer recurrence in some cases.
Potentiating Medication Effects
Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center presented a paper at the April 2011 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research on the benefits of fish oil as a possible adjunct to medical treatment for breast cancer. The animal study conducted using rats found that the combination of fish oil and tamoxifen, a drug commonly used to treat breast cancer, reduce tumor growth and and increased tumor responsiveness to tamoxifen more than tamoxifen alone or corn oil and tamoxifen. The news was not all good, however; in addition to boosting immune defenses against tumor cells, omega-3 fatty acids also increased expression of genes that trigger inflammation and allergic reactions, which could decrease cell's cancer-fighting abilities. Do not take fish oil with tamoxifen without your doctor's approval, since human studies have not yet shown a benefit.
Reducing Muscle Loss
Breast cancer survivors often lose muscle mass, which can increase the chances of weight gain that leads to obesity and possible cardiovascular disease or diabetes. A University of Queensland study presented at the 2011 Universitas 21 Graduate Research Conference on Food in Malaysia found that fish oil reduced chronic inflammation, which may contribute to muscle breakdown in breast cancer survivors. Clinical trials are still needed to prove the benefit and the effective dosages.
Considerations
As of 2011, only a few studies have shown potential benefit in adding fish oil to your post-breast cancer dietary regimen. Some studies done on animals may not prove to have the same benefits in humans in clinical trials. Talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of any dietary supplements, including omega-3 fatty acids, if you're recovering from breast cancer.
References
- Breastcancer.org; U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics; April 2011
- ScienceDaily; Fish Oil Boosts Responses to Breast Cancer Drug Tamoxifen, Researchers Find; April 2011
- "The Journal of Nutrition"; Marine Fatty Acid Intake is Associated with Breast Cancer Prognosis; R. Patterson, et al.; February 2011
- Medical News Today; Fish Oil May Prevent Muscle Loss In Breast Cancer Survivors; April 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Steven Ehrlich; June 2009
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