Prostate Cancer Prevention ©1998 - A Milligram Newsletter Reprint - Bill Sardi, editor FLAXSEED OIL: PROSTATE CANCER PREVENTION Saturated fats from meats are strongly implicated in prostate cancer. (J Urology 159: 1271-75, 1998) Men who eat red meat at least five times a week are 2.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men who consume red meat less than once a week (J Natl Cancer Inst 16: 281-86, 1994). Omega-6 fats such as found in corn, safflower and sunflower oil, are also implicated in prostate cancer. (Am J Clin Nut 66: 998S-1000S, 1997).  Men who consume diets
rich in omega-6 fats were
recently found to increase
their risk of prostate
cancer by 3.54 times.
(Cancer Epid Biomarkers
Prev 5: 889-95, 1996). In
a test-tube study, low
amounts of omega-3 fatty
acids provided no
protective effect against
prostate tumors while
high levels of omega-3
fatty acids did retard
tumor growth (Anticancer
Research 16: 815-20,
1996).
Reduction of saturated fat in the diet combined with moderate provision of omega-3 fats "delays the recurrence of prostate cancer and improves survival in patients with clinical disease after therapeutic treatment." (Am J Clin Nut 66: 1572S-1580S, 1997) Researchers now suggest men who have undergone prostate removal surgery reduce total saturated fat intake and increase their consumption of omega-3 over omega-6 fats. (Proc Soc Exp Biology Med 216: 224-33, 1997). While plant estrogens from soy (isoflavones called genistein and daidzin) have been advocated for prevention of breast and prostate cancer (Diet and Cancer, Plenum Press 1994), flaxseed provides the highest source of lignan, which is another plant estrogen that is touted for its anti-prostate cancer properties (Nutrition & Cancer 26: 159-65, 1996). The lignan in flaxseed oil has been shown to retard breast and colon cancer as well (Cancer Letters 63: 159-65, 1992 and 60: 135- 42, 1991). One study found no protective effect from prostate cancer for omega-3 fatty acids provided by fish oils and the difference may be the lignan content in flax. (Cancer Epidem Biomarkers Prev 5: 88995, 1996) A tablespoon of flaxseed oil provides 5000 mg. of omega-3 fatty acids in a 4-to-1 ratio over omega-6 fatty acids. While both of these fatty acids are essential for life, men battling prostate cancer need omega-3s over omega-6s in a ratio which is uniquely found in flaxseed oil. Men Misled By Faulty Report That Flaxseed Oil Promotes Prostate Cancer  Men across the nation dealing with
prostate cancer are passing around
a spurious report that flaxseed oil
promotes prostate cancer. Nothing
could be further from the truth. The
report comes from the Oct. 6 issue
of the Journal of the National
Cancer Institute. The primary
finding of that study was that
saturated fats promote prostate
cancer. But an erroneous
secondary finding was that omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids (alpha
 linolenic acid) were also to blame.
The study in question never tested
flaxseed oil. The report mistakenly
indicates omega-3 oils in meats
(not vegetables) promote prostate
tumors. But meats contain very
little omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6
oils such as from corn oil and
saturated fats in dairy and meat
products are the true culprits in
prostate cancer.
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