Study Links Omega-3s, Prostate Cancer Risk

Men with high blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids may have an increase in prostate cancer risk, a new study suggests. Many Americans eat oily fish or take fish oil pills because they contain omega-3s. These fats help fight body inflammation. Fish oil has been widely touted as good for heart health. But more recent research has raised questions about whether it has any effect. The new study suggests that taking omega-3s also could have drawbacks. Researchers used data from a large study that was designed to find out whether selenium or vitamin E could help prevent prostate cancer. (They didn’t.) The new study compared blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in 800 men later diagnosed with prostate cancer and 1,400 who did not develop the disease. Men with the highest levels of omega-3s were 43% more likely to develop prostate cancer than those with the lowest levels.