Fish Oil May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Taking fish oil supplements may reduce breast cancer risk, a study suggests. The study included more than 35,000 women who were past menopause and had no previous breast cancer. They were asked about their use of supplements, including fish oil. Researchers kept track of them for 6 years. In that time, 880 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Those who had taken fish oil regularly were 32% less likely to develop breast cancer than other women. The difference applied only to invasive ductal cancer, the most common type. Researchers said it’s not clear why fish oil might affect breast cancer risk. They said more research is needed, including a study that randomly assigns women to take fish oil or fake pills. The study appeared in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. HealthDay News wrote about it July 8.