Anticancer Properties of Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Plant-Based vs Marine-Based
By now the health benefits of consuming foods and supplements containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are known. Recent research, however, demonstrates that not all PUFAs function the same way.
Three types of omega-3 fatty acids are involved in human physiology: α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA, derived from plants, is found in walnuts and other nuts, flaxseed and other edible seeds, and in oils (eg, canola, soy, hemp). EPA and DHA are marine-based and sourced from salmon, tuna, trout, and other fatty fish, as well as phytoplankton and algae.
Omega-3 PUFAs and Breast Cancer
In a recent study, David Ma, PhD, and colleagues in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph, Canada, found that eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids has a significant inhibitory effect on breast cancer. “There is certainly evidence that plant based omega-3s are beneficial for cancer prevention and treatment. Similarly, there is evidence for fish oil as well. One of the goals of our study was to define what the relative difference is,” explained Dr Ma.
This is the first study to compare the potential of plant-based vs marine-based omega-3 fatty acids in inhibiting the development of mammary tumors. Its significance lies in that plants are the primary source of omega-3 fatty acids in the Western diet. Dr Ma's team worked with mice used in studies on prevention and treatment of HER-2 positive breast cancer. HER-2 positive cancer, which occurs in 25% to 30% of breast cancer cases, is highly aggressive and has a poor prognosis. The Guelph group compared the effects of diets containing the different types of omega-3s on this type of cancer. Their findings showed that marine-based fatty acids are more effective at inhibiting tumor development and growth than are plant-based ALA (D Ma, oral communication, January 2018).
Lifelong Use, Long-Term Benefits
The researchers began their study by observing how these tumors develop. To do this, they first exposed the mice to omega-3 diets in utero via maternal diet consumption. This allowed the group to compare how well the different fatty acids prevented tumors from developing over the mice's lifetimes. Study findings showed that over the course of lifelong exposure both plant-derived and marine-based omega-3 fatty acids are incorporated into mammary tumor tissue, thus allowing them to change the composition of the tissue. In addition, all types of omegas act to prevent and combat tumors by activating genes in the body's immune system to block the pathways tumors use to grow.
Lifelong exposure to fatty acids derived from marine sources was 8 times more effective at preventing and controlling HER-2 positive breast cancer than plant-derived fatty acids. Compared with plant-based ALA, consumption of marine-based DHA and EPA reduced the size of the tumors by 60% to 70% and reduced the development of tumors by one-third.
Dr Ma said that plant-derived ALA was beneficial, but higher doses were necessary to achieve the same benefits. However, he noted, consuming higher doses of plant-based ALA will work well for people who do not like fish or fish oil.
Implications for Nursing
When asked how Oncology Nurse Advisor's readers can interpret his study results, Dr Ma said, “Extrapolating from mouse studies is always challenging. A best guess is a minimum of 2 to 3 servings of fish per week, which is the current recommendation for prevention of heart disease.” Patients who wish to use fish oil or krill supplements should take several capsules per day depending on the level of purity. A simple calculation is: if the capsule is 50% EPA+DHA per 1 g-capsule, then 7 capsules are needed per day. However, patients who choose to use a high-concentration formulation would significantly reduce the number of capsules they take. Dr Ma stressed that the main take-away is the importance of getting more omega-3s in our diets from plant or seafood. “Not only will there be benefits for cancer prevention but omega-3s are also good for the health of heart, brain, vision, etc.”
https://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/breast-cancer/anticancer-properties-of-omega-3-pufas-plants-vs-fish/article/743646/
Three types of omega-3 fatty acids are involved in human physiology: α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA, derived from plants, is found in walnuts and other nuts, flaxseed and other edible seeds, and in oils (eg, canola, soy, hemp). EPA and DHA are marine-based and sourced from salmon, tuna, trout, and other fatty fish, as well as phytoplankton and algae.
Omega-3 PUFAs and Breast Cancer
In a recent study, David Ma, PhD, and colleagues in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph, Canada, found that eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids has a significant inhibitory effect on breast cancer. “There is certainly evidence that plant based omega-3s are beneficial for cancer prevention and treatment. Similarly, there is evidence for fish oil as well. One of the goals of our study was to define what the relative difference is,” explained Dr Ma.
This is the first study to compare the potential of plant-based vs marine-based omega-3 fatty acids in inhibiting the development of mammary tumors. Its significance lies in that plants are the primary source of omega-3 fatty acids in the Western diet. Dr Ma's team worked with mice used in studies on prevention and treatment of HER-2 positive breast cancer. HER-2 positive cancer, which occurs in 25% to 30% of breast cancer cases, is highly aggressive and has a poor prognosis. The Guelph group compared the effects of diets containing the different types of omega-3s on this type of cancer. Their findings showed that marine-based fatty acids are more effective at inhibiting tumor development and growth than are plant-based ALA (D Ma, oral communication, January 2018).
Lifelong Use, Long-Term Benefits
The researchers began their study by observing how these tumors develop. To do this, they first exposed the mice to omega-3 diets in utero via maternal diet consumption. This allowed the group to compare how well the different fatty acids prevented tumors from developing over the mice's lifetimes. Study findings showed that over the course of lifelong exposure both plant-derived and marine-based omega-3 fatty acids are incorporated into mammary tumor tissue, thus allowing them to change the composition of the tissue. In addition, all types of omegas act to prevent and combat tumors by activating genes in the body's immune system to block the pathways tumors use to grow.
Lifelong exposure to fatty acids derived from marine sources was 8 times more effective at preventing and controlling HER-2 positive breast cancer than plant-derived fatty acids. Compared with plant-based ALA, consumption of marine-based DHA and EPA reduced the size of the tumors by 60% to 70% and reduced the development of tumors by one-third.
Dr Ma said that plant-derived ALA was beneficial, but higher doses were necessary to achieve the same benefits. However, he noted, consuming higher doses of plant-based ALA will work well for people who do not like fish or fish oil.
Implications for Nursing
When asked how Oncology Nurse Advisor's readers can interpret his study results, Dr Ma said, “Extrapolating from mouse studies is always challenging. A best guess is a minimum of 2 to 3 servings of fish per week, which is the current recommendation for prevention of heart disease.” Patients who wish to use fish oil or krill supplements should take several capsules per day depending on the level of purity. A simple calculation is: if the capsule is 50% EPA+DHA per 1 g-capsule, then 7 capsules are needed per day. However, patients who choose to use a high-concentration formulation would significantly reduce the number of capsules they take. Dr Ma stressed that the main take-away is the importance of getting more omega-3s in our diets from plant or seafood. “Not only will there be benefits for cancer prevention but omega-3s are also good for the health of heart, brain, vision, etc.”
https://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/breast-cancer/anticancer-properties-of-omega-3-pufas-plants-vs-fish/article/743646/
