Specialty Supplement Could Cut Breast Cancer Risk by 32%

In All Health Watch, Cancer

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is wrapping up…and you already know the condition exists. So “awareness” is not the problem…what’s lacking is a solution.

Emerging research now points to one “specialty” supplement as the answer.

The news comes from Emily White, Ph.D. She’s a professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington’s School of Public Health. Dr. White is an expert in cancer prevention…and she also works at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Her research focuses heavily on dietary supplements for cancer.

So what did Dr. White find?

Women who take the specialty supplement…can cut their risk of breast cancer by one-third.

“This is the first study to report on the association of specialty supplements with breast cancer risk,” says Dr. White. “Our finding of a reduced risk of breast cancer with use of (the supplement) warrants further study.”

Dr. White’s results have hit the presses. And other doctors are paying attention to the news.

“These findings suggest that reduced breast cancer risk may be poised to take its place on (the supplement’s) long list of benefits,” says Dr. Mary B. Daly.

Dr. Daly is currently Chair of the Department of Clinical Genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center. She’s been a principal investigator in breast cancer prevention trials. So she knows a quality study when she sees one.

So what is this supplement? And what’s the best way to get it in your diet? Keep reading…and we’ll reveal the answers.

The First Study of Its Kind

For the first time…a study links a supplement to breast cancer prevention.

Dr. White’s study followed 35,016 postmenopausal women…without a history of breast cancer…for six years.

Each woman had to complete a 24-page questionnaire. Some questions asked what supplements the women were taking…beyond just vitamins and minerals.

After six years…participants were required to follow up. 880 women got breast cancer…but there was very promising news.

Many of the women reported taking the “specialty” supplement. It was the only effective natural remedy. And women who took it regularly…had a 32 percent reduced risk of developing the most common form of breast cancer.

“It may be that the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in (the supplement) are higher than most people would typically get from their diet,” says Dr. White.

“Specialty” Supplement For Breast Cancer

The supplement here is fish oil. And breast cancer is just the newest condition it may help.

“Human studies support fish oil as having anti-inflammatory and possibly other properties that could reduce breast cancer risk,” says Dr. White.

Some doctors only credit the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil. Omega-3 helps keep inflammation in check. But the omega-3/omega-6 balance is the key.

A one-to-one omega-3/omega-6 balance will control your inflammation. The average American diet is said to be 30:1…in favor of omega-6. So the balance is clearly off.

The best way to correct that balance…is to take a fish oil supplement.

Doctors recommend 900 mg to well over 2,000 mg of DHA/EPA fish oil per day. There is no definitive ratio of DHA/EPA…but many formulations use a third more EPA. For example…600 mg DHA/900 mg EPA.

One thing to be cautious of…you can take too much fish oil. Omega-3 does thin the blood. It’s nothing to worry about…but be aware if you are taking a really large dose.

You can find fish oil online…or at any health food store. It’s available as liquid or capsule forms. Only buy it from highly-rated reputable sources. And when you get it…keep it in the fridge. That way, it won’t go rancid.

A supplement is your best bet for large doses of omega-3. Many of the fish we eat today are contaminated with toxic heavy metals…so the negatives can outweigh the positives. If you do eat fish…opt for wild-caught salmon. It’s the least tainted of the group.

Fish oil is sure to be studied for breast cancer in the future. We’ll keep you up to date on the latest information.

To your best health,

Michael Jelinek,

Managing Editor, NHD “Health Watch”