Long-Chain (n-3) Fatty Acid Intake and Risk of Cancers of the Breast and the Prostate: Recent Epidemiological Studies, Biological Mechanisms, and Directions for Future Research

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition Vol. 134; no. 12; pp. 3412S - 3420S
• Main Authors: Terry, Paul D., Terry, Jennifer B., Rohan, Thomas E.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.12.2004; American Society for Nutritional Sciences
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; breast neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Breast Neoplasms - prevention & control; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; hormone-dependent; Humans; Male; MEDLINE; n-3; n-6; prostate neoplasms; Prostatic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Prostatic Neoplasms - prevention & control; Risk Factors; Seafood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; AA; PGE2; prostate neoplasms; n-3; n-6; breast neoplasms; hormone-dependent; EPA; DHA; ER; HETE; Prostate tumor; Urinary system disease; Prostate disease; Long chain; Breast tumor; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Lipids; Risk; Research; Malignant tumor; n-3 fatty acid; Epidemiology; Mechanism; Mammary gland diseases; Risk factor; Breast; Unsaturated fatty acid; Male genital diseases; Urogenital system
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/134.12.3412S

The association between dietary (n-3) fatty acids and hormone-responsive cancers continues to attract considerable attention in epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies. We previously reviewed the epidemiological literature on the association between hormone-responsive cancers and the long-chain fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. We concluded that the compelling evidence from ecological studies, animal models, and mechanistic experiments in vitro was not supported clearly by the available epidemiological data. To various degrees, epidemiological studies published more recently attempted to address some of the methodological limitations plaguing earlier studies by using validated questionnaires, examining specific fatty acids and their interrelationships, and adjusting estimates for a wider range of potentially confounding factors than in previous studies. In this review, our aim was to update the previous review with the results of recent epidemiological studies and to discuss possible biological mechanisms and directions for future research.