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  1. Health and Nutrition News

  2. Jul 19, 2013

Fish Oil Increases Prostate Cancer Risk

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil pills may increase men’s risk of developing prostate cancer, according to a large study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Researchers tracked 834 men with prostate cancer, of which 156 had high-grade cancer, and 1393 men without cancer. They found a significant increase in prostate cancer risk among men with high concentrations of omega-3s in their blood. These men were 43 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer and 71 percent more likely to develop a high-grade form of the disease, compared with men who had lower levels of omega-3. The authors recommend evaluating these risks before increasing omega-3 supplementation.

References

  1. Brasky TM, Darke AK, Song X, et al. Plasma phospholipid fatty acids and prostate cancer risk in the SELECT Trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013;105:1132-1141.

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