Aronson went on to say "This study strongly suggests that eating a
healthier ratio of these two types of fatty acids may make a difference
in reducing prostate cancer growth, but studies need to be conducted in
humans before any clinical recommendations can be made."
So far the scientists have used mice for their studies. Researchers fed
one group of mice a diet comprised of 20 percent fat with a healthy
one-to-one ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. A second group of
mice were fed the same diet but with the fat derived from mostly omega-6
fatty acids.
The study showed that tumor cell growth rates decreased by 22 percent
and PSA levels were 77 percent lower in the group receiving a healthier
balance of fatty acids compared with the group that received
predominantly omega-6 fatty acids.
The most likely mechanism for the tumor reductions, according to
researchers, was due to an increase of the prostate tumor omega-3 fatty
acids DHA and EPA and a lowering of the omega-6 acid known as
arachidonic acid. These three fatty acids compete to be converted by
cyclooxgenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2) into prostaglandins, which can
become either pro-inflammatory and increase tumor growth, or
anti-inflammatory and reduce growth.
The researchers found that pro-inflammatory prostaglandin (PGE-2) levels
were 83 percent lower in tumors in the omega-3 group than in mice on the
predominantly omega-6 fatty acid diet, demonstrating that higher levels
of DHA and EPA may lead to development of more anti-inflammatory
prostaglandins.
"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," Aronson said. "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."
They are offering men a chance to join a clinical trial who are
undergoing prostate removal due to cancer. They want to compare the
effects of a low-fat diet using omega-3 supplements.
In addition, Aronson said that further study might show that COX-2
inhibitors or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) combined with
omega-3 supplements also may lower the inflammatory response in prostate
cancer development.
Dan Wilson
Best Syndication
Books on Cancer
Keywords and misspellings: prostrate hormane
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