The Truth Behind the Benefits of Fish oil to Cancer Patients under Chemotherapy

Last year’s scientific studies on fish oil and its cancer connection focused on omega-3’s effects on patients undergoing chemotherapy. The results of a study on the effects of fish oil supplementation on weight loss, muscle and fat loss of lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were revealed last year. The study was conducted by Dr. Vera Madurak and his team in Edmonton, Canada.

Computed tomography images were used as to periodically assess fat and muscle mass. Weights were also recorded periodically. Results show that 69% of the patients, who took up 2 grams of fish oil supplements every day throughout the course of chemotherapy, gained or maintained muscle mass. These patients also maintained their weight. On the other hand, 29% of those patients who did not undergo fish oil supplementation lost about 2.3 kilograms after the 10-week chemotherapy period.

Furthermore, there was no difference seen in the amount of fats between the two groups of patients. With these findings, researchers conclude that pure fish oil as well as fish oil supplements might be beneficial to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, especially in terms of combating muscle loss and malnutrition.

Researchers said that the results are promising given that in a long time, there has been no identified cure for these two detrimental chemotherapy side effects. Weight and severe malnutrition are two main causes of death of chemo patients. Additionally, researchers stated that fish oil may also be beneficial not only to chemo patients but also to older adults who are at risk for muscle and fat loss.

According to some experts, fish oil’s positive effects in mood and depression might also be another factor that helps prevent weight loss and malnutrition among cancer patients. One study revealed that cancer patients taking fish oil supplements have somehow improved their mood and effectively fought over depression, resulting in an improvement on their overall nutrition.

However, further studies are still needed to confirm fish oil’s positive link to cancer. Ongoing studies are being conducted more precisely on the effects of fish oil to the development of endometrial cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Fish Oil is not something unknown to us. It has become extremely famous because of its wide array of health benefits. I bet every health conscious individual wants to know every bit of detail on how it affects our over all health but there are some who gives more attention and focus on a specific property of fish oil, its ANTI CANCER properties.This blog will give you a clearer view on fish oil and its connection to health and cancer.

Who isn't afraid of getting cancer? Probably all of us, right? So basically, this blog is for everyone who'll do what it takes to avoid this deadly illness. As you read along, learn the different types of cancer  that fish oil can prevent according to reliable studies. Start avoiding cancer by feeding your brain with some knowledge!

Getting to Know Fish Oil

Fish Oil is the beneficial oil derived from the tissues of oily fishes such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, lake trout and sardines. It is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) which are known to have a wide variety of benefits ranging from preventing heart diseases, to regulating lipid levels, to preventing certain types of cancers. But one of the most controversial benefits of fish oil is its preventive and curative link to cancers,and we're going to talk about that later. 

For now, here are some videos about fish oil and some health testimonials straight from Medical professionals and researchers who have conducted studies with regards to fish oil's numerous benefits. Before discussing its anti cancer properties, there are few things you need to know about fish oil that will somehow make you understand how it is possible for fish oil to prevent chronic illnesses including cancers.

Fish Oil and Its Anti Cancer Benefits

Let me share to you the several benefits of fish oil to specific types of cancer according to reliable studies. These will also give you interesting facts on the anti cancer properties of omega-3 fatty acids, the essential fatty acids in fish oil. 

It May be the Cure to LUNG CANCER – A case study published in the Journal Nutrition and Cancer found out  how a 78-year-old man suffering from advanced stage lung cancer survived after being on a fish oil diet. According to the article, the man’s natural approach in treating his lung cancer includes increasing his Omega-3 intake to 15g/day, and completely reducing all other vegetable oil and foods rich in Omega-6’s in his diet. He was found alive five years later. In the actual study, his X-rays and CT scan results showed remarkably a slow and steady decrease in the size and number of bilateral nodules.

Because the study merely focused on the case of one man, researchers couldn’t exactly conclude fish oil’s ability to treat lung cancer. But the quests for knowing the exact link of fish oil to lung cancer are already continuing. Certain studies involving animal models have positive findings regarding this link. Important findings published in the Journal found out how fish oil supplements and a diet low in Omega-6’s decreases lung tumors in mice by 80%.   

It May Inhibit Prostate Cancer Along with Diet – it is already widely known that a diet low in fat yet high in omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent prostate cancer. This fact has an optimistic impact on researchers and scientists to study further the effects of fish oil to prostate cancer.

One study published in the Journal of Cancer Prevention and Research found a significant reduction in the size and growth of cancer cells in men with prostate cancer after treating them with 5 grams of fish oil per day and letting them stick to a low fat diet (or a Non-western Diet) during the study. The researchers also believed that the typical Western diet which is very high in fat and Omega-6 plays a big role in the development of chronic conditions nowadays. 

It May Prevent Breast Cancer – Researchers believed that the balance between omega-3 and omega-6s seems to play an important role in the development and growth of breast cancer. Studies also suggest that women who have a regular intake of foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like oily fishes, or those taking fish oil supplements over many years may have a reduced risks to breast cancer.

A large scale study involving 35, 000 participants concluded that fish oil reduces breast cancer risk by 32%.  Furthermore, researchers are continuously speculating the effects of Omega-3’s, in combination with essential nutrients (vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, and coenzyme Q10) in preventing and treating breast cancer. In addition, the risks of dying from breast cancer are believed to be significantly less for those whose diets include large quantities of Omega-3 from fish and brown kelp seaweed.

Fish Oil Supports Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy – A recent study in Sydney Hospital Australia, has found out the positive effects of fish oil to many bowel cancer patients. These beneficial effects include alleviation of malnutrition, weight maintenance as well as tolerance to chemotherapy treatment. 

Inhibits Cervical Cancer by Preventing HPV infection – HPV Infection(Human Papilloma Virus) is the most common sexually-transmitted disease which can eventually lead to cervical cancer. Most women nowadays, aged 18 and above are sexually active and because of this, they become more at risk to cervical cancer, unless they’re taking fish oil supplements. According to a reliable study, fish oil inhibits the growth of cervical pre-cancerous cells. This study actually tested fish oil on cervical HPV-induced precancerous cells and found positive effects. 

It May Reduce Our Risks To Colon Cancer – A large study conducted in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina found out that Omega-3 consumption has an inversely proportional relationship to the development of colon cancer. Researchers tested 1,503 whites and 369 African Americans, half of each group have colon cancer and the other half were considered healthy controls. They found out that top 25 %  of whites in terms of Omega-3 fatty acid consumption had a 50 % reduced risk to colon cancer compared to  the bottom 25% who have lower consumption of Omega-3’s. They also found out the positive effects of DHA and EPA in reducing colon cancer risk, even when analyzed separately. 

It may be the Cure to Leukemia - A recent study on mice has found out the outstanding ability of fish oil in treating chronic myelogenous leukemia. The mice with leukemia were treated with fish oil and were cured without relapse at the end of the study. 

The Omega-3's found in fish oil, DHA and EPA were believed to play a significant role in activating aspecific gene found in cancerous cells, the gene which programs the cancerous cells' own death.

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 If you're amazed with the anti cancer benefits of fish oil and you couldn't wait to experience its nutirional goodness, include some oily fishes (salmon, tuna, mackerel , herring and sardines) in your diet at least twice a week or take fish oil supplements regularly.