The January 25, 2006, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association contained an article that came to the conclusion that omega-3 fatty acids have no benefit in preventing cancer. A closer read of the same article presents a very different interpretation, according to Dr. Sears.
“This study is obviously flawed since the levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids they studied were basically at placebo levels,” Dr. Sears said.
Another problem with the authors’ conclusion is the nature of the fatty acids used in various studies, Dr. Sears said.
“Their review of the literature combined both studies on short-chain omega-3 fatty acids, such as alpha linolenic acid found in plant sources, as well as long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, found only in marine sources,” Dr. Sears said. “Animal studies clearly indicate that short-chain omega-3 fatty acids are inferior to the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in terms of cancer benefits.”
The most telling statements, however, come from the authors of the study, he said. They state that their conclusion “appears to contrast with the findings from studies of laboratory animals”. The authors continue with an assumption “that the high doses of omega-3 fatty acids frequently used in animal studies could produce bleeding if administered to humans.” Their sole reference to support that assumption comes from another meta-analysis of animal studies that has nothing to do with humans.
“There are numerous clinical studies in humans that exceptionally high levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids not only don’t cause bleeding, but are the most effective ‘drug’ to reverse the wasting associated with advanced cancer,” Dr. Sears said.
These human studies were never mentioned in this review.
“What should be recommended is to do human clinical studies using the same high levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that are effective in animal studies. Until that time, the conclusions of this paper should be considered without merit.”
Dr. Sears is one of the leading authorities on the clinical use of high-dose omega-3 fatty acids as described in his two latest books, The OmegaRx Zone and The Anti-Inflammation Zone.