Eating even moderate amounts of oily fish like salmon, mackerel or sardines might cut the risk of prostate cancer in half, new research suggests. Omega-3 fatty acids, plentiful in dark, oily fish, are known to fight heart disease. They also have shown promise in protecting against cancers of the colon, rectum and ovary. A new study, published this week in The Lancet medical journal, Finnish researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, showed that men who ate no fish during the 30-year period analysed, were two to three times more likely to get prostate cancer than those who ate fish regularly. Fish high in fatty acids called omega-3 are particularly effective, the scientists said. The survey assessed nearly 6,300 Swedish men between 1967 and 1997. During that period there were 466 diagnoses of prostate cancer of which 340 were fatal. The link between the fatty fish and a reduced frequency of prostate cancer was even stronger after the results were adjusted to account for the influence of other eating habits, a genetic predisposition to prostate cancer and smoking, drinking and exercise habits, the study said. Sardines have the most omega-3 oil in them, while the concentration in tuna is quite a lot less, Wolk said, adding that it doesn't matter if the fish is canned. Source: The Associated Press, and Reuters
