Eating oily fish reduces actinic keratoses by 28%

Actinic keratoses: consuming oily fish reduces them by 28%.

High consumption of foods rich in Omega 3 may help protect against skin cancers. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that those who consume these nutrients are at less risk of actinic keratoses, skin lesions that predict the development of ^cancer1. To protect the epidermis, it is sufficient to take moderate amounts of Omega-3s, which are suitable for preventing the development of these spots.

Actinic keratosis, the wake-up call before cancer

Actinic keratoses are rough, crusty patches caused by prolonged exposure to the sun. For this reason they are also named solar keratoses. They are considered precancerous lesions. Their presence is associated with chronic damage and a high probability of developing several types of skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma. Reducing sun exposure time is a first strategy to prevent both keratoses and skin cancer. However, several studies suggest that diet can also counteract the development of these diseases.

Omega-3 rich diet and keratosis: the link

Studies have shown that the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma doubles in diets characterized by high meat and fat consumption, halves in those who consume copious amounts of green leafy vegetables2^,3. Similar results were also obtained in a study that instead focused on the occurrence of keratoses. It was shown that halving the amount of dietary fat intake by 20 to 40 percent reduced the number of lesions developed over two years from an average of 10 ± 13 to 3 ±⁷⁴.

Omega-3s reduce the incidence of keratosis

Building on this knowledge, researchers at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia, looked in more detail at the correlation between diet and solar keratoses. They collected data on the dietary habits of 1,119 individuals involved in a skin cancer study conducted in Queensland, Australia. The information was obtained through specific questionnaires completed by study participants over 3 different years:

• 1992
• 1994
• 1996

The analysis revealed that eating 1 serving of Omega-3-rich fatty fish is enough to reduce keratosis by 28%. The result is very similar to that obtained by drinking wine-a valuable source of antioxidant molecules. In fact, the same study showed that half a glass of wine a day reduced actinic keratoses by 27%.

Sunscreens allied to nutrition

Based on these findings, the study authors concluded that nutrition and sunscreen can help reduce the occurrence of actinic keratoses. In particular, increasing consumption of foods rich in Omega-3 helps protect the skin from precancerous lesions.  

Source: 

1. Hughes MC, Williams GM, Fourtanier A, Green AC, "Food intake, dietary patterns, and actinic keratoses of the skin: a longitudinal study," Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Apr;89(4):1246-55. Epub 2009 Feb 25 

2. Ibiebele TI, van der Pols JC, Hughes MC, Marks GC, Williams GM, Green AC, "Dietary pattern in association with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin: a prospective study," Am J Clin Nutr 2007;85:1401-8 

3. Hughes MC, van der Pols JC, Marks GC, Green AC, "Food intake and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in a community: the Nambour skin cancer cohort study," Int J Cancer 2006;119:1953-60 

4. Black HS, Herd JA, Goldberg LH, et al, "Effect of a low-fat diet on the incidence of actinic keratosis," N Engl J Med 1994;330:1272-5