Omega-3s are essential fatty acids your body can’t make.

They’re critical components in the membranes that surround the cells in your body, provide calories to give your body energy and support many functions, including heart, blood vessel, lung, immune system and endocrine system health.

So, it’s not surprising that omega-3 supplements have grown in popularity.

But when it comes to men’s health, specifically anything prostate-related, there’s been some controversy…

Studies have shown omega-3s could slow the growth of prostate cancer, while some have seen a slight increase in risk.

As with research, there can be many variables, but a team of UCLA-led investigators decided to take a closer look at men with low-risk prostate cancer and are hopeful their findings may influence treatment strategies…

The prostate cancer benefits of omega-3s

Many men with low-risk prostate cancer choose active surveillance over immediate treatment. That means they have chosen to undergo regular monitoring of their cancer without immediate intervention.

However, within five years, about half of these men need to undergo therapy with either surgery or radiation. That’s why patients are eager to find ways to delay the need for treatment, including through dietary changes or supplements.

But so far, there have been no specific dietary guidelines established for prostate cancer patients under active surveillance. Clinical trials have looked at increasing vegetable intake and healthy diet patterns. Still, none have found a significant impact on slowing progression.

The UCLA team recruited 100 men under active surveillance for low-risk or favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to continue their regular diet or follow a diet low in omega-6s and high in omega-3s, supplemented with fish oil, for one year.

The typical American diet contains 14 to 25 more omega-6s than omega-3s and is not considered healthy. Unlike omega-3s, omega-6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory and have been linked to heart disease, cancer, the development of high blood pressure in people with diabetes and high triglycerides.

Participants in the intervention arm of the study received dietary counseling from a registered dietician nutritionist who guided them on reducing the consumption of food with higher omega-6 content, including chips, cookies, mayonnaise and other fried or processed foods. They also were counseled to eat fish rich in omega-3s and given fish oil capsules for extra omega-3s. The control group didn’t receive any counseling or fish oil capsules.

The researchers tracked changes in a biomarker called the Ki-67 index, indicating how fast cancer cells multiply. This is a key predictor of cancer progression, spread and survival. Same-site biopsies were obtained at the beginning of the study and at the one-year mark. What did they find?

Great results, with a caveat

According to the results, those following an omega-3-rich diet, low in omega-6s and supplemented with fish oil, had a 15 percent decrease in the Ki-67 index. In comparison, the control group saw a 24 percent increase. In other words, consumption of the omega-3 diet significantly reduced the growth rate of prostate cancer cells in men with early-stage disease.

“This significant difference suggests that the dietary changes may help slow cancer growth, potentially delaying or even preventing the need for more aggressive treatments,” says Dr. William Aronson, a professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and first author of the study.

While these results are promising, the researchers didn’t see any differences in other cancer growth markers commonly used to track prostate cancer progression. They caution that further study is needed to confirm the long-term benefits of omega-3s and lowering omega-6s in managing prostate cancer.

Omega-3-rich foods include fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and sardines, as well as plant-based oils like hemp and linseed and some algae like spirulina.

Other options include adding a fish oil supplement to your daily regimen — or better yet, a krill oil supplement. Some studies indicated that the fatty acids in krill oil are more easily absorbed. In fact, one study found that taking krill oil versus fish oil resulted in higher levels of omega-3s EPA and DHA in the bloodstream.

Sources:

A low omega-6, omega-3 rich diet and fish oil may slow prostate cancer growth — ScienceDaily

High Omega-3, Low Omega-6 Diet With Fish Oil for Men With Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance: The CAPFISH-3 Randomized Clinical Trial — Journal of Clinical Oncology

Omega-3 Fatty Acids — National Institutes of Health