Omega-3 acids in Fatty Fish Prevent Kidney Cancer

New research suggests that the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids abundant in fatty fish like salmon and sardines may help protect women against kidney cancer.

A study conducted in Sweden, over a period of 15 years, analyzed women on the basis of consumption of fatty and lean fish and the risk of kidney cancer. The study revealed that those who ate high amounts of fatty fish had 44 percent less risk for developing renal cell carcinoma than those who did not consume any fish.

The study was led by Alicja Wolk of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden and is stated to be the first study to look at fatty fish consumption. The findings of the study were published in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study investigated the association between fatty-fish and lean-fish consumption and the incidence of kidney cancer in 61,433 women. The participants were required to fill a food frequency questionnaire in the year 1987 and then in 1997.

Researchers found a lower incidence of kidney cancer in women who ate fatty fish once a week or more. In all, during an average 15-year follow-up from 1987 to 2004, 150 kidney-cancer cases were diagnosed.

The authors claimed that, "In this large population-based cohort with data on long-term diet, we found that women who consumed one or more servings of fatty fish per week had a statistically significant 44 percent decreased risk of RCC (renal cell carcinoma) compared with women who did not consume any fish. Women who reported consistent long-term consumption of fatty fish at baseline and 10 years later had a statistically significant 74 percent lower risk."

Based on the findings of the study, Alicja recommended consumption of fatty fish as opposed to lean fish primarily because of the many benefits which the former provides.

Eugenia Calle, director of analytic epidemiology for the American Cancer Society said, "This is not a common cancer, so the public health impact is not as great as it would be, say, for breast, lung, prostate….if fatty fish were associated with a decreased risk of additional cancers, that would be a very important message."