Increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids may cut the risk of colorectal cancer in men by a whopping 66 per cent, but only in men not taking aspirin, suggests new research.
Writing in February's journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, lead author Megan Hall from Harvard School of Public Health states that aspirin has also been linked to a reduction in colorectal cancer via a similar mechanism.
The new research investigated the link between the fatty acid concentrations in the blood of 178 men with colorectal cancer (cases) and 282 healthy controls free from cancer. The controls were matched by age and smoking habits. Dietary assessment was obtained by using food frequency questionnaires.
After adjusting the results for potential confounding factors, Hall and her co-workers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, report that amongst the entire population the highest versus lowest blood levels for total long-chain omega-3 fatty acids were associated with a 40 per cent reduced colorectal cancer risk.
When they examined a subset of men who were not taking aspirin, men with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids were associated with a significant 66 per cent reduced risk of colorectal cancer than those with the lowest blood levels.
Friday, February 23, 2007
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