Many people maintain the habit of taking omega-3 fish oil daily to protect cardiovascular health, reduce arthritis inflammation, enhance brain function, and support vision.
However, the role of omega-3 fish oil supplements in cancer remains unclear. New research recently published in the scientific journal Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology has shed light on this issue.
Scientists from the University of Michigan Medical School and the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas (USA) conducted experiments on mice, comparing a group fed a diet rich in fish oil with a group fed a standard diet. They focused on observing the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on mice exposed to inflammatory chemicals that accelerate tumor growth.
Researchers have identified a gene called 15-lipoxygenase-1, or ALOX15, as a key factor in determining whether fish oil can help prevent colorectal cancer.
New research reveals surprising facts about omega-3 fish oil. Photo: Adobe Stock
As a result, researchers discovered something quite surprising: Omega-3 fish oil only works to prevent colorectal cancer if the body has an enzyme called ALOX15, an enzyme that can activate the anti-cancer properties of omega-3 fish oil, according to the science news website Sciencendaily .
Specifically, in mice with active ALOX15, supplementation with omega-3 fish oil in the form of EPA helped reduce both the number and size of tumors.
However, in mice lacking ALOX15, fish oil was unable to inhibit tumor growth.
Scientists explain that, normally, when supplementing with omega-3 fish oil, the EPA and DHA fatty acids are converted by the body into resolvins, compounds that help reduce chronic inflammation – a major factor in cancer.
This conversion process depends entirely on the enzyme ALOX15. Without ALOX15, fish oil, especially DHA, would be unable to exert its anti-cancer effects.
Professor Imad Shureiqi, an oncologist at the Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, concluded that the anti-cancer potential of fish oil may depend on whether you possess the necessary enzymes to metabolize these products. Therefore, ALOX15 testing in cancer patients may be crucial when considering preventative strategies involving omega-3 fish oil supplementation.
Imad Shureiqi advises patients to consult their doctor before starting to use fish oil supplements.
Meanwhile, the research team is developing drugs designed to increase ALOX15 levels in cancer cells. Their goal is to enhance the body's ability to process EPA and DHA, which could strengthen efforts to prevent colon cancer, according to Sciencendaily.