Nutrients Studied in Breast Health

by CP Staff

Fish oil and a variety of dietary supplements used to ameliorate the symptoms of menopause were evaluated in a recent study to determine their possible association with breast cancer risk. The American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. The lifetime risk of developing invasive breast cancer in women is approximately 12 percent, or 1 in 8. The ACS estimates that for 2010, there will be 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer plus another 54,010 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer diagnosed this year.

In this new study, researchers investigated the relationship between the consumption of fish oil and menopausal supplements including: black cohosh; dong quai; soy and St. John\'s wort, and the risk of developing breast cancer. The subjects included 35,016 post-menopausal women between age 50 and 76 in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Cohort. The subjects completed a 24-page questionnaire regarding use, frequency and duration of specialty supplement intake. The subjects were followed for up to 7 years to evaluate the incidence of breast cancer.

The results showed that the subjects\' current use of fish oil was associated with a 32 percent reduction in the risk of developing ductal breast cancer, particularly in those taking it for over 10 years. The use of the menopausal supplements did not affect breast cancer risk.

The study authors stated, “Fish oil may be inversely associated with breast cancer risk. Impact: Fish oil is a potential candidate for chemoprevention studies.”

Reference:

Brasky TM, Lampe JW, Potter JD, Patterson RE, White E. Specialty Supplements and Breast Cancer Risk in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Cohort. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2010 Jul;19(7):1696-708.

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