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9 July 2010

Fish oil linked to lower breast cancer risk

Women who take fish oil supplements are less likely to develop breast cancer, according to new research published this week in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

Results from the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort study suggest that women who take fish oil supplements have a reduced risk of breast cancer compared with women who don't take the supplements. This is the first study that has investigated the long-term health consequences of dietary supplements and how they affect the risk of breast cancer in women.

The researchers recruited over 35,000 American women aged between 50 and 76. At the start of the study the researchers asked the participants to complete a questionnaire about their use of dietary supplements over the previous 10 years. They collected information about the participants' physical activity levels, use of medication, and if they had any family history of cancer. At the end of the six year follow-up period, the researchers recorded the number of women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

It's important that you stay breast aware. This means knowing what is normal for your breasts and getting medical advice promptly if you notice any changes.

Dr Peter Mace, Assistant Medical Director, Bupa

The researchers found that there was a significantly lower risk of breast cancer among women who took fish oil supplements, compared with women who didn't. They found no association between the risk of breast cancer and other dietary supplements.

The researchers highlighted a number of limitations to their study, including the fact that it relied on the participants remembering what supplements they had taken over the past 10 years. The researchers also didn't ask the participants what dose they had taken. They concluded that more research needs to be carried out before fish oil supplements can be promoted to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women.

Commenting on the research, Dr Peter Mace, Assistant Medical Director for Bupa said: "This study is very interesting but women shouldn't start taking fish oil supplements based on these results alone. Although this is the first study to show a link between fish oil supplements and a lower risk of breast cancer, there are a number of limitations and more research is needed.

"It's important that you stay breast aware. This means knowing what is normal for your breasts and getting medical advice promptly if you notice any changes.

"At Bupa we offer a breast check as part of our Health Assessments. This includes a physical and visual examination of your breasts. We also provide advice on breast awareness. A mammography (for women aged 40 or over) is available at an additional cost."

Key facts
  • Breast cancer is a tumour in the breast that contains cancerous cells.
  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and in 2007 over 45,000 women and nearly 300 men were diagnosed.
  • Eight out of 10 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50.
  • You can be breast aware by following the five-point breast awareness code.
    - Know what's normal for you.
    - Check both the look and feel of your breasts.
    - Know what changes to look and feel for.
    - Report any changes to your GP straight away.
    - Attend routine breast screening if you're 50 or over.
  • If you notice any changes that aren't normal for you, visit your GP.

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Read the study

Brasky TM, Lample JW, Potter JD et al. Specialty Supplements and Breast Cancer Risk in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Cohort. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 19 (7) July 2010.

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