Omega-3 fatty acids may cut breast cancer risk

New York

The study revealed that increasing levels of Omega-3 in theblood were linked with reduced breast density. 

However,the association was found only in women with a body mass index above 29,bordering on obesity.

Thesefatty acids are naturally found in fatty fish, such as tuna, seafood and somenuts and seeds.

Theanti-inflammatory effects found in Omega-3s, specifically Docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) – a type of fatty acid – are preferentially protective in obesepostmenopausal women. 

Further,women with a normal weight have less inflammation than heavier women, and aretherefore less likely to benefit from anti-inflammatory Omega-3s.

"Omega-3fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect, so that's one of the reasons whywe suspected it may be particularly effective in obese women," said AndreaManni, professor at Pennsylvania State University in US.

Obesity isa major breast cancer risk factor in postmenopausal women, and scientistsbelieve increased inflammation is an important underlying cause in thispopulation.

Thestudy, detailed online in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, included 266healthy postmenopausal women with high breast density detected by routinemammograms. 

The womeneither received no treatment, or were given Raloxifene - an anti-estrogen drug,or Lovaza – an omega-3 drug or a combination of the two drugs.

AlthoughLovaza contains both the fatty acids DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), onlyDHA blood levels were associated with breast density reduction, the studypointed out.