Omega-3 fatty acid may not protect against colon cancer

Adding a fish oil supplement containing omega-3 fatty acid to a healthy diet did not lower the risk of developing colon polyps—considered a precursor to colon cancer—in a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Although there was no overall reduction in risk in the study population, the researchers found that a supplement showed some benefit among adults with low plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids and African Americans.

The study was published November 21, 2019 in JAMA Oncology.

“I think the overall health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are well established,” co-author Mingyang Song, assistant professor of clinical epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told UPI. However, he said more research is needed on whether the supplement can reduce cancer risk.

Read the UPI article: Omega-3 fish oil doesn’t reduce risk for early signs of colon cancer, study finds