Fish Oil: Too Much of a Good Thing?
11:52 minutes
Fish oil may have some benefit for the heart. But a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute links higher blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil to a higher risk of prostate cancer. Study author Alan Kristal says the potential mechanism is unclear, but he warns that supplements can sometimes increase the risk of the very diseases they’re meant to prevent.
Segment Guests
Alan Kristal
Alan Kristal is associate head of the Cancer Prevention Program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and an epidemiology professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.
Related Links
- JNCI: Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer Risk in the SELECT Trial
- TIME.com: Hold the salmon: omega-3 fatty acids linked to higher risk of cancer
- Study confirms link between high blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids and increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center: Q&A With Dr. Alan Kristal About Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer Risk
Meet the Producer
About Christopher Intagliata
@cintagliataChristopher Intagliata was Science Friday’s senior producer. He once served as a prop in an optical illusion and speaks passable Ira Flatowese.