Reduction of breast cancer risk by fish consumption is not supported

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A recent study found no evidence that breast cancer risk is reduced by fish consumption.

"There is current interest in fish consumption and marine omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids and breast cancer risk. Some in vitro and animal studies have suggested an inhibitory effect of marine n-3 fatty acids on breast cancer growth, but the results from epidemiological studies that have examined the association between fish consumption and breast cancer risk in humans are inconsistent," investigators in Norway report.

D. Engeset and colleagues of the University of Tromso wrote, "We examined fish consumption and breast cancer risk in 310,671 women aged between 25 and 70 yr at recruitment into the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). The participants completed a dietary questionnaire between 1992-98 and were followed up for incidence of breast cancer for a median of 6.4 yr. Hazard ratio for breast cancer by intake of total and lean and fatty fish were estimated, stratified by study center and adjusted for established breast cancer risk factors."

"During follow-up, 4,776 invasive incident breast cancers were reported," stated the authors. "No significant associations between intake of total fish and breast cancer risk were observed, hazard ratio (HR) 1.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-1.02; p=0.28 per 10 g fish/day). When examining lean and fatty fish separately, we round a positive significant association only in the highest quintile for fatty fish (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26), but test for trend was not significant (p=0.10). No associations with breast cancer risk were observed when the study participants were subdivided by menopausal status."

The researchers concluded, "Although the period of follow-up is relatively short, the results provide no evidence for an association between fish intake and breast cancer risk."

Engeset and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Cancer (Fish consumption and breast cancer risk. The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). Int J Cancer, 2006;119(1):175-182).

For more information, contact D. Engeset, Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromso, N-9037 Tromso, Norway; E-mail: dagrun.engeset@ism.uit.no.

Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Cancer is: Wiley-Liss, Division of John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA.

Keywords: Tromso, Norway, Breast Cancer, Breast Carcinoma, Breast Cancer Risk Factor, Fish Consumption, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Women's Health. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.

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