The typical Western diet is lacking in a healthy balance of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids, and for men with prostate cancer, this can have adverse consequences in controlling tumor growth and PSA levels. In this part of the world, our diet offers too little in the way of omega-3 and too much in the way of omega-6. Researchers found that by balancing the ratio in increasing omega-3 and decreasing omega-6 in the diet, there were able to slow tumor cell growth rates by 22 percent and lower PSA levels a whopping 77 percent.Omega-3 fatty acids are found in leafy green vegetables, nuts, vegetable oils such as canola and soy, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, olive oil, cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines and fresh tuna. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in corn, safflower oils, food products made with corn oil (think processed foods and fast foods) and red meats.
According to UCLA researchers, when the fatty acids are not in the right ratio to each other, omega-6 creates an inflammatory response in the body that can promote the growth of tumors, while omega-3 has the opposite effect in acting as an anti-inflammatory.
"This is one of the first studies showing changes in diet can impact the inflammatory response that may play a role in prostate cancer tumor growth," said principal investigator Dr. William Aronson. "We may be able to use EPA and DHA supplements while also reducing omega-6 fatty acids in the diet as a cancer prevention tool or possibly to reduce progression in men with prostate cancer."
These studies were done on animal models, and not humans, but the researchers did use a special mouse model for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer that matched closely prostate cancer in men.
1. This interesting research using a mouse model is a welcome
reinforcement of existing advice to supplement diets of prostate
cancer patients and those who wish to prevent it with good quality
fish oil. Indeed, the referenced article refers to "the healthier
marine omega-3 fatty acids."
However, there is what
increasingly appears to be a vitally important distinction in the
source of omega-3 fatty acides: plant based omega-3s do not seem to
have the same effect, and two in particular, canola and flaxseed
oil, appear dangerous to prostate cancer patients. (However, there is
evidence that they, especially flaxseed oil, may be beneficial to
patients with breast cancer, colon cancer, heart problems and
rheumatoid arthritis.) (I want to make clear here that I am an
educated layman prostate cancr survivor and not a medical
professional. I'm repeating what I've learned from sources I
consider credible.)
First, men simply do not metabolize
flaxseed oil well, and the preponderance of studies suggests that
flaxseed oil is a fuel for prostate cancer. Studies can be checked
in www.pubmed.gov with the search string: "alpha-linolenic acid AND
prostate cancer". (Alpha linolenic acid is the major plant omega 3
fatty acid, and flaxseed oil is the key source.) Dr. Charles Myers,
Jr. has addressed this in a free article available at his website,
www.prostateforum.com, in the "info to know" section in the article
on flaxseed oil. He cites references to medical research published
in peer-reviewed journals. He suggestst that flaxseed itself, in
contrast to the oil, is less of a concern as it is much less
concentrated.
The bottom line: unless research someday
proves otherwise, it appears dangerous for men having or at elevated
risk for prostate cancer to have a significant amount of flaxseed oil
(or canola oil) in their diets. As Dr. Myers has noted, patients
having other conditions benefited by flaxseed oil will have to make a
choice which risks they will run.
Jim
Posted at 5:15PM on Aug 3rd 2006 by Jim