The oils could halve the size that tumours grow, and also stop them metastasizing (spreading) – and as a result, the women live longer. The oils also seem to have a protective effect against breast cancer, researchers from the University of Nebraska have found.
They think the oils boost the immune system response to the cancer – which suggests they could be just as effective with other cancers as well – and have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Specifically, the oils seem to encourage the growth of T-cells, the white blood cells that strengthen the immune system, and especially its cancer-fighting qualities.
In tests on laboratory mice, those fed an omega-3 diet had a higher T-cell count and less inflammation than other mice that were instead fed an omega-6 rich diet, the polyunsaturated fats that can cause inflammation in the body.
Tumours also took longer to develop in the omega-3 group – and sometimes the cancers never appeared at all, suggesting the oils have a protective effect – and, after 35 days, were only half the size of the tumours in the omega-6 group.
(Source: Clinical & Experimental Metastasis, 2018; doi: 10.1007/s10585-018-9941-7)
