New research has found that omega-3 fatty acids contained in oily fish such as salmon and trout are known to fight skin cancer and cancer of the mouth, as well as efficiently can help prevent the growth of tumors and destroy cancerous tissue.
The findings obtained by scientists from Queen Mary, University of London, based on laboratory tests which showed that omega-3 into the cause of death of the malignant cells cause cancer.
The study, published online in the journal Carcinogenesis shows omega-3 has the potential to be used either as treatment or prevention of skin cancer and mouth. Polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 can not be created by humans in large numbers and to obtain it must be from food or supplements.
According Zacharoula Nikolakopoulou, MD, who conducted the research at Queen Mary, those at risk of these cancers may benefit from omega-3 fatty acids.
This new study involving certain types of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell is part of the skin, and also occurs in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and other areas in the body. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer occurring throughout the world and one that is difficult to treat.
In an experiment in the study, the scientists grow cell cultures in the laboratory and then treat it with a fatty acid. Such cells include the type of oral cancer cells and skin cells along with premalignant (precancerous) and normal cells of the skin and mouth.
"We found that omega-3 can selectively inhibit the growth of malignant cells and cells of premalignant at doses that do not affect normal cells." Said Kenneth Parkinson, head of Oral Cancer Research Group at Queen Mary's Institute of Dentistry.
Although some previous studies have linked the omega-3 in the prevention of some types of cancer, but few of them are associated with oral cancer.
Omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained by eating fish, fish oil, or supplements. Eating foods that contain omega-3 on a regular basis can provide benefits for your body, especially as it has been reviewed by this article, namely to prevent skin cancer and oral cancer.
