An article posted online at BMJ (British Medical Journal) today reported the results of a meta-analysis involving over 800,000 participants and 20,000 breast cancer cases. What they found was that those who ate the most amount of omega 3's from fish (not from plants), enjoyed a 14% reduction in breast cancer rates compared to those who ate the least. The amounts required were very small: each 0.1 gram per day resulted in 5% of the risk reduction. Converting molecular amounts to plate sizes: two moderately sized portions a week of wild fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids provide a sufficient dose to be associated with a lower breast cancer rate.
The article will hopefully provide inspiration for an interventional trial which will carefully eliminate other variables and see if the intervention of twice weekly fish makes a predictable difference.
I for one, wouldn't particpate in such a trial: it's possible that one would be in the group without the fish and there are so many reasons to include omega-3 fish in your diet, that it would be hazardous to go without it! Previous research has demonstrated either associations or actual benefits with omega-3 fish and improved cardiovascular, hormonal, neurological and psychological health.
Practically, remember that the plant based omega-3's were not associated with the same benefit and that wild salmon has a far higher omega-3 content, while farmed salmon at this point contains more omega-6's. If you don't have a good source locally for wild salmon, you might be interested in Vital Choice Seafood, a leader in quality fish and other food products and information.
