Is it true that Fish Oil Can Cause Prostate Cancer?

Medical Video: Vitamin D Fish Oil not Beneficial for Heart or Cancer (HD) FOR MEDIA
Prostate cancer, a cancer that many men experience in the world
Research on fish oil supplements and the risk of prostate cancer
What is the relationship between fish oil and prostate cancer?
Fish oil supplements are not the best food

Medical Video: Vitamin D Fish Oil not Beneficial for Heart or Cancer (HD) FOR MEDIA

There have been many studies that state and prove that fish oil is very beneficial for health, especially for cognitive development and children's brains. Fish oil is usually obtained from tuna, salmon and trout. Today, fish oil is packaged more in capsules so it is more commonly referred to as supplementation. But a new study states that supplementation of fish oil consumed too much by men can cause an increased risk of prostate cancer. How can? Then, do we have to limit fish consumption?

Prostate cancer, a cancer that many men experience in the world

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that is often experienced by many men in the world. According to WHO, prostate cancer is experienced by as many as 1.1 million men in the world in 2012, affecting at least 15% of the total men in the world. Although until now it is not known exactly what causes prostate cancer, but experts say that there are various risk factors that can trigger the occurrence of prostate cancer, namely:

Age. Prostate cancer is very rare in men under the age of 45 years and is more common in men who have entered the age of more than 50 years.
Genetics. People who have a history of prostate cancer in their families eat more at risk for prostate cancer as well.
Diet. Food greatly affects what happens in the body, including triggering cancer growth.
Obesity. Men who have excess body weight are more likely to develop prostate cancer.
Sexually transmitted diseases. Unhealthy sexual behavior, or frequent unprotected sexual intercourse can also increase the risk of prostate cancer. People who have gonorrhea are more at risk for prostate cancer.

Research on fish oil supplements and the risk of prostate cancer

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, examined levels of omega 3 fatty acids in 35 thousand men over the age of 50 in the United States. This study records all food and beverages consumed by these respondents. Then, in the study it was found that there were 800 men diagnosed with prostate disease and 1,400 men who did not have the disease. Then the researchers compared the two groups by looking at the levels of omega-3 fatty acids from the results of their blood tests.

The blood test results showed that the group diagnosed with prostate cancer had higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids in their blood compared to those without prostate cancer. In addition, the researchers also concluded that people who consumed too much fish oil were at risk of developing prostate cancer 3 times higher for prostate cancer.

The researchers also found that in the group affected by prostate cancer more people consumed fish oil from supplements, which amounted to 43%, not directly from food sources, such as tuna, salmon and trout.

What is the relationship between fish oil and prostate cancer?

Fish oil is known as an anti-inflammatory and is good for maintaining heart health. However, it is different in the research described earlier. In this study showed that actually consuming fish oil increases the risk of prostate cancer. Then is fish oil not really healthy?

Until now the researchers also still did not know what the relationship between the two. But they claim that this is not a cause-effect, so fish oil is not the cause of prostate cancer. But the researchers concluded that the omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil have the ability to affect DNA, which might cause mutations and then cancer. This of course is unclear and still needs further investigation. Therefore, the researchers did not recommend men to reduce and limit fish consumption which is actually very good for health.

Fish oil supplements are not the best food

Most people who consume fish oil may get it more from supplements, not directly from food sources. This is of course different, because authentic food is still better than supplements or drugs that contain various multivitamins. If you can still consume fish oil from food sources directly, then avoid supplements and multivitamins that will also have a detrimental effect on your health if you consume too much.