Women: fish oil supplements to prevent colon polyps

Omega-3 fatty acids still prove to be important allies for women's well-being: eating fish, a food rich in these nutrients, actually helps prevent the onset of colon polyp. This was revealed in research conducted by Dr. Harvey J Murff's team, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. According to the study authors, consuming fish on a regular basis would enable women to prevent colon polyps from forming. The term "polyp" means a small, often asymptomatic,pathological growth that forms on a mucous membrane (such as the nose, uterus, intestines, stomach and, indeed, colon). Over time and if left unchecked, such a physical manifestation could turn into cancer.

Colon polyp and Omega-3: the study

Dr. Murff states that theanti-inflammatory action of Omega-3s is effective in reducing the risk of cancer occurrence. Murff is also very clear on another point: it is necessary to eat fish at least 3 times a week to accentuate the preventive power of these fatty acids. The research was conducted over 7 years on a sample of 5,307 people (40% women, 60% men) undergoing colonoscopy:

• 3,166 subjects who had no polyps formation;
• 1,597 subjects with adenomatous polyp;
• 544 subjects with hyperplastic polyp.

Patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire containing the following information:

• diet
• lifestyle
• medical, personal, and family history

These factors were combined with other important clinical data, such as age and body mass index. The final results were interesting: women who introduced at least 3 weekly servings of fish into their diet reduced the chance of developing angiomatous polyps by 33%.

Fish that contain Omega-3

Omega-3s are contained mainly in oily fish:

• salmon
• mackerel
• sardines
• anchovies
• herring
• tuna
• halibut
• swordfish

Conclusions

Data collected indicate that intake of high amounts of marine-derived fatty acids is associated with decreased cancer risk. However, these benefits were not found in male subjects and patients.    

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