Positive Health Online

Abstract

CAVE, Endocrine Unit, University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York USA writes that despite early experimental research which showed that quantitative increases in dietary fat promote breast tumour growth, more recent studies have shown that not all fatty acid families equally express tumour-promoting capability. The author reviews (62 references) some of the experimental evidence demonstrating that omega-3 polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) have significantly different breast tumour-promoting capabilities from those of the omega-6 PUFAs. These data demonstrate that, whereas increasing dietary levels of omega-6 PUFAs increases tumour development, equivalent increases in dietary levels of omega-3 PUFAs delay or reduce tumour development. The theoretical mechanisms proposed for these contrasting results along with their supporting experimental evidence are also discussed.

Background

Methodology

Results

Conclusion

References

Cave W Jr. Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fats and breast cancer. Nutrition 12(1 Suppl): S39-42. Jan 1996.