A recent study published by the New York Daily News has had many of my patients calling me in a panic asking if they should stop taking their omega 3 supplements. Since this study was published, thousands of health-conscious folks just like you have suddenly become afraid of their own dietary supplements.
Let me put those fears to rest right now by saying:
Omega 3 does not cause prostate cancer or any other type of cancer, it helps prevent it.
Flawed Omega 3 Study Jumps the Gun – Frightens Consumers
It is well know that those cultures and individuals who follow a Mediterranean diet or Japanese diet, both of which are high in EPA+DHA, have greatly reduced risks of developing prostate cancer. This concurs with my personal observations and treatment of patients over the past thirty years.
When I first heard about this so-called study, it didn’t make any sense to me so I did some research. This is when I came across an email from Dr. Robert Rountree, Chief Medical Officer of Thorne Research, Inc.
This is what he had to say about the study:
“The data came from what is referred to as a retrospective, nested, case-control study. The data was extracted from another, much larger, previously conducted trial that was not originally intended to examine the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid levels and prostate cancer. In other words, the original study was not designed to determine any of the conclusions reached in the analysis contained in the article.”
This means the study was completely misrepresented. This was not a controlled, double-blind study you’re used to reading about. Nobody studied a group of men for a period of years, giving one group fish oil and the other group a placebo. No actual clinical trials were conducted at all.
This observational study was taken directly from a larger, previous study that had been conducted years earlier for something completely unrelated.
Unbelievable!
It gets worse.
One of the primary reasons for omega 3 fatty acids coming under fire was the high levels of DHA discovered in the blood of men who already had prostate cancer. What they don’t reveal is that high levels of DHA are not always caused by an intake of omega 3 fatty acids. These levels can also increase due to a low-fat diet.
But what also doesn’t make sense is that high levels of DHA are not a risk factor for disease. Countless clinical studies have shown that it is low levels of DHA that increase the inflammatory response and contribute to serious conditions like dementia and prostate cancer.
So what was causing the prostate cancer of the men whose blood was tested for the purposes of this “study”?
Here’s what they didn’t tell you about them:
- 53 percent of the subjects with prostate cancer were smokers.
- 64 percent of the cancer subjects regularly consumed alcohol.
- 30 percent of the cancer subjects had at least one first-degree relative with prostate cancer.
- 80 percent of the cancer subjects were overweight or obese.
Aha!
Could it be that omega 3 fatty acids have nothing to do with the development of prostate disease but other risk factors do? This is the much more likely scenario.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids are Essential to Your Optimum Health
There have been countless positive studies done on the incredible health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids. They are called essential fatty acids because your body cannot make them on its own and must get them from food sources or supplements.
Here are just some of the health benefits of omega 3 fatty acids:
Brain/Emotional Health
Omega 3 fatty acids are crucial to proper brain and emotional function. Studies have shown that the DHA in omega 3 fatty acids helps reduce the risk of myriad brain and mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, aggressive behavior, poor memory and concentration, learning and comprehension difficulties, and dementia.
Cardiovascular Health
If you’re concerned about coronary heart disease, the best thing you can do for your health is to eat more wild-caught fish and/or invest in a quality omega 3 fatty acid supplement. According to a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, regular consumption of omega 3 fatty acids greatly reduce fatalities from cardiovascular disease in both men and women.
Digestive Health 
Anyone struggling with digestive irregularities such as indigestion and constipation will greatly benefit from omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids provide lubrication for your entire digestive system so food moves efficiently through, allowing for maximum nutrient absorption and thorough elimination. Also, the lipase contained in fish and fish oil supplements is a powerful fat-digesting enzyme that helps break down food to make nutrients easier to absorb.
Joint Health
Omega 3 fatty acids offer powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. Anyone struggling with arthritis and other joint conditions should eat more wild-caught fish and take omega 3 supplements. Omega 3s relieve pain by inhibiting pro-inflammatory compounds and providing joint lubrication.
Prostate Health
In direct contrast to the flawed July 2013 study, The International Journal of Oncology published evidence that showed the DHA present in fish oils reduced the risk of prostate cancer development. Even low doses of DHA showed marked cell growth inhibition while encouraging apoptosis (spontaneous death of cancer cells). Omega 3 fatty acids are also a primary natural treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia because of its powerful ability to decrease inflammation.
Decrease Your Risk of Prostate Cancer Naturally
If you’re concerned about prostate cancer, there are several things you can do to prevent its development:
Improve Your Diet
The best thing you can do for your health right now is improve your diet. This means slowly tapering off of junk food and investing in foods that will really improve your health. I recommend increasing your intake of organic vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans, meat, poultry, and wild-caught omega 3-rich fish.
You will also benefit from adding healthy fats to your diet such as coconut oil, olive oil, and butter. Despite what you’ve heard, these fats are not bad for your health. Trans fats, the kind found in highly-processed convenience foods, are the ones you need to avoid.
Change Your Lifestyle Habits 
The Department of Pediatrics released a study that shows a direct correlation between insulin growth factor (IGF-1) and advanced prostate cancer. Obese men have an increased IGF-1, which puts them at increased risk for advanced prostate cancer later in life. Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.
Lung cancer isn’t the only disease you have to worry about if you light up regularly. Habitual smokers diagnosed with prostate cancer have been found to have an increased risk of recurrence and death from the disease than non-smokers. Quit smoking.
There has been evidence that the resveratrol in wine may inhibit the development of prostate cancer. However, it is important to note that alcohol abuse has been shown to significantly increase this risk. Reduce your alcohol consumption.
Take the Right Supplements
You may already be taking a few dietary supplements but are they really good for your health? Many store-bought dietary supplements are loaded with synthetic nutrients your body cannot easily absorb not to mention an alarming array of additives, preservatives, dyes, and sweeteners that may actually increase your risk of developing cancer.
Here is what I’ve been recommending to my patients:
Diamond Nutritional’s Foundation Vitamin Formula
Even if you eat a healthy diet, you may still have some significant nutritional gaps. This is why I recommend adding Diamond Nutritional’s Foundation Vitamin Formula.
Foundation’s fortifying ingredients include:
o Vitamin A – 7,500 IU Foundation Vitamins (NO iron)
o Vitamin C – 500 mg
o Vitamin D3 – 500 IU
o Vitamin E – 100 IU
o Vitamin K – 50 mcg
o Thiamine – 25 mg
o Riboflavin – 25 mg
o Niacin – 25 mg
o Vitamin B6 – 38 mg
o Folic Acid – 400 mcg
o Vitamin B12 – 500 mcg
o Biotin – 200 mcg
o Panthothenic Acid – 150 mg
o Calcium – 100 mg
o Iodine – 113 mcg
o Magnesium – 200 mg
o Zinc – 10 mg
o Selenium – 100 mcg
o Copper – 1 mg
o Manganese – 2.5 mg
o Chromium – 200 mcg
o Molybdenum – 25 mcg
o Potassium – 50 mg
o Choline Bitartrate USP – 50 mg
o Inositol – 50 mg
o Mixed Tocopherols – 50 mg
o Lipoic Acid – 25 mg
o N-Acetyl-Cysteine USP – 25 mg
o Rutin – 25 mg
o Lutein – 3 mg
o Boron – 1.5 mg
o Lycopene – 1 mg
o Vanadyl Sulfate Hydrate – 1 mg
Diamond Nutritional’s Prostate Support Formula
My Diamond Nutritional’s Prostate Support Formula contains a synergistic blend of antioxidant and inflammation-fighting ingredients to help ease inflammation and decrease your risk for developing prostate cancer.
These ingredients include:
Zinc
Zinc is a powerful antioxidant mineral that helps shrink your enlarged prostate and boost your testosterone levels.
Selenium
This trace mineral helps prevent excessive oxidation in the prostate. It also cuts down on the symptoms of BPH and reduces the risk of developing prostate cancer.
Copper
Copper works in conjunction with zinc to heal an enlarged prostate.
Saw Palmetto
This herb helps improve urinary tract function while reducing the inflammation that leads to frequent urination and discomfort.
Nettles Root Extract
Nettles root is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It helps maintain a normal rate of cell proliferation within the prostate by acting on the Na+/K+ ATPase enzyme. It also decreases the negative effects of androgens on the prostate, thus inhibiting prostate cell growth.
Pygeum Bark Extract
This herbal remedy has been used successfully for thousands of years to treat inflammation and prostate disease. It helps decrease discomfort and urinary frequency.
Diamond Nutritional’s Balanced Omega 3 Formula
The prevention of prostate cancer depends on the reduction of the pro-inflammatory compounds that cause BPH. Diamond Nutritional’s Balanced Omega 3 Formula contains 100% molecularly-distilled fish oil with 1,200 mg. of essential EPA and DHA. With this formula, there’s zero ‘repeat’ and no mercury contamination.
It is my opinion that there will be plenty more of these studies coming out against nutritional supplements. As more people take charge of their health with preventative measures, more pharmaceutical companies lose out on millions. The best thing you can do is be proactive about your health by doing your own research.
