Mothers who eat fish and other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and while nursing may reduce the risk of breast cancer in their daughters by as much as 40 percent, according to researchers of an experimental study done in mice.
It was also found that feeding female offsprings a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids after weaning reduced their risk of breast cancer by 40 percent.
Consuming omega-3 fatty acids through foods or supplements at any point in life can reduce the risk of breast cancer in female offspring significantly, said W. Elaine Hardman, assistant professor at Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and lead researcher of the study.
"In mice genetically programmed to develop breast cancer, we found that if we fed omega-3 fatty acids to the mice, we could prevent them from developing cancer," Hardman said.
Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in fish, especially tuna, salmon and mackerel, as well as in canola and flaxseed oils, soybean and nuts.
According to Hartman, people need to include more omega-3 fatty acids in their diet, "particularly pregnant women who need to eat more fish or take an omega-3 supplement to help reduce the risk of cancers in the next generation," she said.
Although the study does not necessarily prove that the same is true for humans, some experts believe that the study has its relevance.
Dr. David Katz, associate professor of public health at Yale University School of Medicine said "in the context of all we know about dietary fats, hormones and health outcomes in people, (the study) is very suggestive."
He added: "I generally encourage my patients to increase their intake of omega-3 fatty acids, and emphasize this in particular during pregnancy and breastfeeding."
Since the average diet is usually not sufficient to meet the required levels of omega-3, health experts recommend fish oil supplementation.
Omegabloc, manufactured in the United States and locally distributed by Trianon International Inc., is an omega-3 supplement. It is recommended that individuals take two to three Omegabloc softgels daily after meals to optimize its health benefits. It is available as an over-the-counter product at Mercury, Watson and other leading drug stores nationwide.