26 December 2012
Regular supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and coenzyme Q10 reduces the level of a biomarker linked to prostate cancer risk, reports a new study from Iran.
In the randomized controlled trial, blood serum levels of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was measured in 504 healthy men (aged 40–70 years) receiving daily supplements of 400 mg CoQ10, omega-3 fatty acids (4.48 g eicosapentaenoic acid plus 2.88 g docosahexaenoic acid), 2.4 g of the omega-6 fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) or placebo for 12 weeks (1). The study results showed that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and CoQ10 was associated with 30% and 33% reductions in PSA levels, respectively, while GLA intakes were associated with an increase of PSA of about 15%.
The researchers concluded that dietary supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids or CoQ10 may have a protective effect against developing prostate cancer and/or a therapeutic effect in men with prostate cancer. The cancer preventing effect may be due to omega-3 fatty acids’ anti-inflammatory and the antioxidant’s CoQ10 immune system stimulating efficacy. The scientists noted that the new findings need to be interpreted with caution: longer studies are necessary to reach an appropriate conclusion.
Prostate cancer accounts for 28% of total cancer incidence and is the second most common cause of cancer-related death of men in the USA. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is widely used for the detection of asymptomatic and early-stage prostate cancer. Serum PSA concentrations may be affected by many factors unrelated to prostate disease, including age, dietary factors, obesity, diabetes and medications.
1 June 2011
They are often pale or overweight, their immune system is frequently impaired and their opportunities for personal development are more limited: the welfare system Hartz IV jeopardizes the chance of every sixth child in Germany to consume an inadequate diet.
1 August 2012
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids serve as indispensable structural components of cellular membranes and are important for normal brain and eye development. As a foetus’ intake of fatty acids is mainly dependent on the intake of the expectant mother, there has been growing concern that the low intake of omega-3 fatty acids in Western nations, particularly of DHA, may place infants at risk of deficiency during the critical early period of neurological development.
5 March 2014
A new UK study reports that less than one in three women take folic acid supplements before pregnancy to prevent birth defects.
