n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids and colon cancer prevention

• Published in: Clinical Nutrition Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 139 - 151
• Main Authors: Roynette, Catherine E, Calder, Philip C, Dupertuis, Yves M, Pichard, Claude
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anticarcinogenic Agents - administration & dosage; Anticarcinogenic Agents - therapeutic use; Apoptosis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Cachexia; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Colon cancer; Colonic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Colonic Neoplasms - genetics; Colonic Neoplasms - prevention & control; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - physiology; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - therapeutic use; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - physiology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Genotype; Humans; Immuno-modulatory nutrition; Medical sciences; n-3 Fatty acids; Neovascularization, Pathologic; Prevention; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Survival Rate; Tumors; Prevention; Colon cancer; n-3 Fatty acids; Immuno-modulatory nutrition; Human; Diet; Digestive system; Gut; Unsaturated fatty acid; Lipids; Colon; Malignant tumor; n-3 fatty acid
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2003.07.005

The incidence of colon cancer in industrialised countries has increased since the early 1970s. It is estimated that more than one-third of cases are associated with factors related to a Western diet. Both the type and amount of dietary fats consumed have been implicated in colon cancer aetiology. Recent studies have demonstrated that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), commonly found in fish oil (FO), could prevent colon cancer development. Evidences show that n-3 PUFAs act at different stages of cancer development and through several mechanisms including the modulation of arachidonic acid-derived prostaglandin synthesis, and Ras protein and protein kinase C expression and activity. As a result, n-3 PUFAs limit tumour cell proliferation, increase apoptotic potential along the crypt axis, promote cell differentiation and possibly limit angiogenesis. The modulatory actions of n-3 PUFAs on the immune system and their anti-inflammatory effects might also play a role in reducing colon carcinogenesis. There remains, nevertheless, some ambiguity over the safety of n-3 PUFAs with respect to secondary tumour formation. However, it appears that n-3 PUFAs may be of use in colon cancer prevention.