Dietary Intake of ω-6 and ω-3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in a Prospective Cohort of U.S. Men and Women

Abstract

Background: W-6 and W-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids intakes may play opposing roles in inflammationdriven colorectal carcinogenesis. We examined the relationship of these polyunsaturated fatty acids and the ratio of their intake with colorectal cancer risk in a large U.S. prospective cohort. Design: Participants in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort completed a detailed questionnaire on diet, medical history, and lifestyle in 1999. Between 1999 and 2005, 869 incident colorectal cancer cases (452 men and 417 women) were identified among 99,080 participants (43,108 men and 55,972 women). Multivariate-adjusted rate ratios were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results:The ratio of total W-6 to total W-3 intake was not associated with colorectal cancer risk in either sex. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, total W-6 intake was inversely related to colorectal cancer risk

Vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and colorectal cancer risk in the United Kingdom Dietary Cohort Consortium

“…4 Here we extend these analyses by reporting on n À 6 and n À 3 fatty acids, and the ratio n À 6:n À 3. None of these measures of fat intake were associated with the risk for colorectal cancer, which is consistent with the results of several other prospective studies, [20][21][22] although some have reported a reduction in risk in association with a high intake of n À 3 fatty acids or a high ratio of n À 3 to n À 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. 23,24 Strengths of this study are that dietary intakes were measured prospectively by food diaries using similar methods in the seven contributing studies, and that we were able to allow for the influence of several potential confounding factors.…”

Obesity, Nutrition, and Asthma in Children

“…[71][72][73][74][75] Interestingly, a Mediterranean diet higher in n-3 fatty acids and antioxidants appears to protect young children from recurrent wheezing. 76 Obese children on average consume more n-6 dietary PUFAs, have a reduced n-3:n-6 ratio in their diet, 77 and have reduced n-3:n-6 PUFA serum levels compared to similar leans. 78 A high-fat meal can acutely induce inflammatory airway changes among healthy volunteers.…”

Lifestyle Changes May Prevent Cancer

“…Data on health effects of fatty fish intake, the correlation between fatty fish intake and gastric cancer , breast cancer (Terry et al, 2003;Murff et al, 2011), prostate cancer (Terry et al, 2003;Allen et al, 2004) and colorectal cancer (Aune et al, 2009a;Vinikoor et al, 2009;Daniel et al, 2009) are inconsistent (Daniel et al, 2009). Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish are seen as promising nutrients in cancer prevention, but currently there is not enough supportive scientific evidence.…”

“…Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish are seen as promising nutrients in cancer prevention, but currently there is not enough supportive scientific evidence. On the other hand, intake of α-linolenic acid might be a risk factor for cancer (Daniel et al, 2009;Colquhoun et al, 2009). New studies, both experimental and epidemiological, are necessary to shed more light on these findings.…”