Can Omega-3s Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk?
- New research shows that a higher intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer in pre- and postmenopausal women, especially premenopausal women who have obesity.
- Postmenopausal women have an increased risk of breast cancer, which is enhanced if they are overweight and have high cholesterol, hypertension, or both.
- Since the body does not produce n-3 PUFAs naturally, incorporating foods high in n-3 PUFAs, also known as omega-3s, could help with breast cancer prevention.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, with the exception of skin cancer. It accounts for 1 in 3 female cancers each year and occurs mostly in middle-aged and older women with a median age of 62. The American Cancer SocietyTrusted Source estimates that 287,850 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and 43,250 women will die in 2022. While there are numerous factors that affect breast cancer risk, there is research to suggest that diet plays a key role in the development of the disease. According to a new study, recently published in the journal Menopause, there is an inverse relationship between breast cancer risk and intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), particularly in premenopausal women who have obesity.
Excerpted from Healthline
