The typical Western diet is lacking in a healthy balance of omega-3 fatty acids to omega-6 fatty acids, and for men with prostate cancer, this can have adverse consequences in controlling tumor growth and PSA levels. In this part of the world, our diet offers too little in the way of omega-3 and too much in the way of omega-6. Researchers found that by balancing the ratio in increasing omega-3 and decreasing omega-6 in the diet, there were able to slow tumor cell growth rates by 22 percent and lower PSA levels a whopping 77 percent.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in leafy green vegetables, nuts, vegetable oils such as canola and soy, flaxseed, flaxseed oil, olive oil, cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines and fresh tuna. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in corn, safflower oils, food products made with corn oil (think processed foods and fast foods) and red meats.


According to UCLA researchers, when the fatty acids are not in the right ratio to each other, omega-6 creates an inflammatory response in the body that can promote the growth of tumors, while omega-3 has the opposite effect in acting as an anti-inflammatory.

"This is one of the first studies showing changes in diet can impact the inflammatory response that may play a role in prostate cancer tumor growth," said principal investigator Dr. William Aronson. "We may be able to use EPA and DHA supplements while also reducing omega-6 fatty acids in the diet as a cancer prevention tool or possibly to reduce progression in men with prostate cancer."

These studies were done on animal models, and not humans, but the researchers did use a special mouse model for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer that matched closely prostate cancer in men.