Ask the Doc

by Dr. Robert Swain

Q. I heard fish oil increases risk of prostate cancer. 

A.  Recently there was an article published that got people's attention in regards to high doses of fish oil and the relation to higher risk of prostate cancer. This is not new information. 

First, I have to tell you that what was published is ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.  Researchers have known that high doses of fish oil are related to a higher risk of prostate cancer, as it was published for the first time back in the end of the 80's beginning of the 90's.

Even though this is nothing new, scientists consider it worth discussing for the following reasons:

The higher risk of prostate cancer happens when taking fish oil only, not with other omega-3 supplements,  ONLY AND EXCLUSIVELY WITH FISH OIL and only happens when doses of six grams fish oil or more are taken on a daily basis for periods longer than two years. (Which nobody does.)

Doses of 10 to 20 grams of fish oil and 13 to 26 grams of other omega-3 supplements have been used in other studies to treat other prostate disease, like prostate hyperplasia, without showing signs of higher risk of prostate cancer. The studies have failed over and over, and have never been successful on demonstrating that omega-3s different than the fish oil could also produce a higher risk of cancer.

Scientists consider this a paradox, since the higher risk of cancer happens only with fish oil supplements, not with real fish. For instance, the Japanese and the Inuit of Greenland, who happen to eat massive amount of blue fish every day, have the lowest risk of prostate cancer in the world.

There are more studies proving the benefits of taking omega-3 supplements for the prostate health than the studies that are done against it. There have been a few studies about it and the one that remarks prostate cancer risk has not been reproduced with success has not been published. Neither has the source of the fish oil been revealed. Since the quality of the omega-3 is critical for its therapeutic effect, many scientists believe the problem in this study was the quality of the fish oil more than the fish oil itself.

Thank you for such a great question. If you need a good fish oil, give me a call and I can recommend  some. If you have a question about any article, please let me know and I will respond.

Just for Fun Quiz

Which state . . .  

1. Has the most scientists and engineers? 
2.  The largest city in square miles? 
3.  Was where television was invented in 1922. 
4.  Has twice as many college graduates of any other state. 

Good Luck

Last Month's Answers

1 - Frisbee was invented here.  Answer: Yale in New Haven, Connecticut
2- Has an exact replica of the house in Wizard of Oz ( could be a trick). Answer:  Liberal, Kansas
3- President Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear here. Answer: Mississippi
4-  More triplets are born here than any other state. Answer: Kentucky 

As always stay well, win the war against disease, and enjoy a long healthy life.