RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.—The research continues to roll out on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their health benefits. A study Institute of Environmental Health Sciences supported the hypothesis that long-chain omega-3 PUFAs have beneficial effects in colorectal carcinogenesis (Am J Epidemiol. 2010;171(9):969-979).The authors examined the association between intakes of different PUFAs and distal large bowel cancer in a population-based case-control study of 1,503 whites (716 cases; 787 controls) and 369 African Americans (213 cases; 156 controls) from 2001 to 2006.
Increased consumption of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs was associated with reduced risk of distal large bowel cancer in whites. Intake of individual eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) was inversely related to distal large bowel cancer risk, whereas the ratio of omega-6 to long-chain omega-3 PUFAs was associated with increased risk of distal large bowel cancer in whites, but not among African Americans. Whether or not the possible benefit of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs varies by race warrants further evaluation, the researchers noted.