If you are a vegetarian, this is not good news
Much as the proponents of vegetarianism would like to believe that there are no nutritional benefits of non-vegetarian food, some nutrients it seems are more beneficial when they come from an animal rather than a plant source
New research has found that omega 3 fatty acids from fish pack a stronger punch than flaxseed and other oils when it comes to cancer prevention, according to a first-ever University of Guelph study. Omega three fatty acids are abundantly available in fishes such as tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, salmon and hilsa.
Prof. David Ma of the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences has discovered that marine-based omega-3s are eight times more effective at inhibiting tumour development and growth.
“This study is the first to compare the cancer-fighting potency of plant- versus marine-derived omega-3s on breast tumour development. There is evidence that both omega-3s from plants and marine sources are protective against cancer and we wanted to determine which form is more effective,” Ma said.
Based on the doses given in the study, Ma said humans should consume two to three servings of fish a week to have the same effect. Besides certain foods containing EPA and DHA, supplements and functional foods, such as omega-3 eggs or DHA milk, can offer similar cancer prevention effects, he added.
There are three types of omega-3 fatty acids said the professor a-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is plant-based and found in such edible seeds as flaxseed and in oils, such as soy, canola and hemp oil. EPA and DHA are found in marine life, such as fish, algae and phytoplankton.
Published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, the study involved feeding the different types of omega-3s to mice with a highly aggressive form of human breast cancer called HER-2. HER-2 affects 25% of women and has a poor prognosis.
Ma exposed the mice to either the plant-based or the marine-based omega-3s, beginning in utero.
“The mice were exposed to the different omega-3s even before tumours developed, which allowed us to compare how effective the fatty acids are at prevention. It’s known that EPA and DHA can inhibit breast tumour growth, but no one has looked directly at how effective these omega-3s are compared to ALA,” said Ma.
However, higher doses of the plant-based fatty acid were required to deliver the same impact as the marine-based omega-3s. Omega-3s prevent and fight cancer by turning on genes associated with the immune system and blocking tumour growth pathways, said Ma.
Based on the doses given in the study, Ma said humans should consume two to three servings of fish a week to have the same effect. Besides certain foods containing EPA and DHA, supplements and functional foods, such as omega-3 eggs or DHA milk, can offer similar cancer prevention effects, he added. The next step is to investigate the effects of omega-3s on other forms of breast cancer.
“Seeing the significant benefits omega-3s can have in combatting a highly aggressive form of breast cancer means omega-3s will likely be beneficial for other types of cancer.”
