Inuit Are Protected Against Prostate Cancer

• Published in: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention Vol. 12; no. 9; pp. 926 - 927
• Main Authors: DEWAILLY, Eric, MULVAD, Gert, PEDERSEN, Henning Sloth, HANSEN, Jens C, BEHRENDT, Nille, HANSEN, Jens Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA American Association for Cancer Research 01.09.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Diet; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - analysis; Greenland - epidemiology; Humans; Incidence; Inuits - genetics; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Prevalence; Prostatic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Prostatic Neoplasms - mortality; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Retrospective Studies; Selenium - analysis; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Greenland; Human; Prostate disease; Polyunsaturated fatty acid; Male; Malignant tumor; n-3 fatty acid; Epidemiology; Ethnic group; Feeding; Prevention; Diet; Selenium; Prostate
• ISSN: 1055-9965; 1538-7755

Incidence and mortality rates for prostate cancer are reported to be low among Inuit, but this finding must be additionally supported given the difficulty of obtaining a precise medical diagnosis in the Arctic. We conducted an autopsy study in 1990–1994 among 61 deceased males representative of all deaths occurring in Greenland and found only one invasive prostate cancer. Histological data were available for 27 autopsies and revealed no latent carcinoma. Our results suggest that in situ carcinoma is rare among Inuit and that their traditional diet, which is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and selenium, may be an important protective factor.