A recent study from the University of Georgia shows that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids—often called “healthy fats”—might help reduce the risk of developing various types of cancer.
Alongside their known benefits for lowering cholesterol, improving brain health, and supporting mental health, these fats are now linked to cancer prevention.
The study’s results, published in the International Journal of Cancer, highlight how people with higher levels of these fatty acids had lower rates of multiple cancers, suggesting a potential preventive role of these fats in our diets.
The study used data from a long-term U.K. study involving over 250,000 people, tracking them for more than ten years. During this period, nearly 30,000 participants were diagnosed with cancer.
The researchers observed that individuals with higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were less likely to develop many cancer types.
Lead author Yuchen Zhang from the University of Georgia noted that these findings indicate people should aim to include more of these fatty acids in their diets for potential health benefits.
Omega-3s were particularly effective in reducing the risks of colon, stomach, and lung cancer, as well as other digestive tract cancers.
On the other hand, omega-6 fatty acids were linked to lower rates of 14 different cancers, including brain cancer, malignant melanoma, and bladder cancer. The results showed that both types of fatty acids could play a role in reducing cancer risks across a range of types.
These fatty acids are essential nutrients, meaning our bodies need them but cannot produce them naturally. Omega-3s are commonly found in fatty fish, like salmon and sardines, as well as in nuts and some plant oils.
Omega-6s are also present in certain plant oils, such as sunflower and canola oil. Despite these foods being widely available, many people do not consume enough omega-3s and omega-6s, leading some to take fish oil supplements to reach recommended levels.
Fish oil supplements, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, are popular because they are known to help lower cholesterol and support heart health.
While fish oil supplements offer many benefits, the choice to take them is not necessarily straightforward. The researchers in this study found that although high omega-3 levels helped reduce the risk of most cancers, they might slightly increase the risk of prostate cancer in men.
This suggests that the decision to increase omega-3 intake may depend on individual health considerations. Kaixiong Ye, a co-author of the study, pointed out that for women, the choice is clearer since omega-3s generally provided protective benefits without similar risks.
Interestingly, the study found that omega-6 fatty acids seemed especially beneficial for younger people, particularly women, suggesting that age and gender may influence how these fatty acids affect cancer risk.
These findings offer new insight into the role of healthy fats in preventing cancer and underscore the importance of dietary choices in long-term health.
Although previous research hinted at a connection between fatty acids and cancer prevention, this study is among the first to show a clear link between higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 and reduced cancer rates.
Importantly, the benefits were consistent regardless of other lifestyle factors like body weight, alcohol consumption, and physical activity.
While more research is needed to fully understand these relationships, adding omega-3 and omega-6 sources to the diet might offer a simple step toward lowering cancer risk.
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The research findings can be found in the International Journal of Cancer.
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