A new study suggests that fish oil supplements could help women significantly lower their risk of breast cancer, however Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and other observers agree that more study is necessary. Komen for the Cure issued a statement today calling the findings “exciting” and pointing to millions of dollars that Komen is also funding for research on the effects of fish oil on breast health.

“The possibility that regular use of fish oil supplements could help reduce the risk of breast cancer, is of course, both potentially exciting as well as intriguing,” said Liz Thompson, senior vice president of Medical and Scientific Affairs for Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. “These early findings demonstrate the need for follow-up studies. In fact, Komen for the Cure is already investing $7.5 million in a major study at Pennsylvania State University’s School of Medicine looking at how fish oils may be combined with the drug raloxifene to prevent breast cancer. In the meantime, we suggest women check with their health care providers about the pros and cons of using these and other supplements.”

The fish oil supplements studied, which contain high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, were preliminarily linked to a 32 percent drop in the risk of developing invasive ductal carcinoma (the most common type of breast cancer) among post-menopausal women. Researchers from the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center in Seattle recently published results of their study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. The scientists found fish oil did not seem to affect the risk of lobular cancer.

Visit our website for more information about the Omega-3 study and to learn more about omega-3 fatty acids.