Besides their many beneficial effects in areas such as cardiovascular and brain health, omega-3 fatty acids have also been linked to a decreased incidence and progression of various types of cancer. One of these is esophageal adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer that has been on the rise over the past 20 years and that is associated with a poor prognosis. Esophageal adenocarcinoma arises from the premalignant condition known as Barrett’s esophagus.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tested the effects of supplementation with the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on biological endpoints in Barrett’s esophagus. 27 patients with the premalignant condition were randomly assigned to a control group or a group supplemented with EPA for 6 months.
At the end of the study, there was a significant decline in concentrations of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in the supplemented group which was inversely related to the change in EPA concentrations. COX-2 is an enzyme that is responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Overexpression of this enzyme has been shown to occur in both esophageal adenocarcinoma and Barrett’s esophagus, and can lead to a reduced rate of cell death of abnormal cells, increased invasiveness of cancerous cells, and increased development of blood vessels to feed the cancerous growth. COX-2 is usually found in low levels in Barrett’s esophagus, but its levels tend to increase as cancerous changes progress. The inhibition of this enzyme has been indicated as a possible preventive measure for cancer progression.
The study concluded that omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful for patients with Barrett’s esophagus. Maintaining high levels of omega-3s in the esophageal mucosa may help to inhibit the development or progression of this form of cancer.
Mehta SP, Boddy AP, Cook J, Sams V, Lund EK, Johnson IT and Rhodes M. Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on Barrett’s epithelium in the human lower esophagus. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2008;87:949-56.
For more information see Omega EPA
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