Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Those in the EPA/DHA group saw their prostate specific antigen levels fall by 30%.

Prostate cancer comprises 28% of all cancers that occur (1) and is the second most common cause of cancer-related death of men in the USA (2). The National Cancer Institute estimates  there will be 241,740 new cases and 28,170 deaths from prostate cancer in 2012 (3), with healthcare costs averaging $42,570 per patient (4).

Research has shown that prostate cancer deaths are much higher in Northern Europe and North America than in Japan and other Asian nations (5).  Research suggests a significant reason for this is the Western diet (6), specifically the 15:1 ratio of omega 6 fats to omega 3 fatty acids in the Western diet (7) compared to the 4:1 ratio in the Eastern diet (8).

Now a new study (9) suggests both omega 3 fats and Coenzyme Q10 may help prostate health.  In the study, 504 healthy men aged 40 to 70 with prostate-specific antigen (10) levels < 2•5 nanograms/milliliter were given one of the following per day for 12 weeks:

  • Omega-3 fatty acids (4.48 grams of EPA and 2.88 grams of DHA = 126 patients)
  • Omega-6 fatty acids (2,400 milligrams of Gamma-linolenic acid = 126 patients)
  • CoQ10 (400 milligrams = 126 patients)
  • Placebo = 126 patients

Blood samples were taken before and after the study to measure for prostate-specific antigen levels as well as EPA, DHA, gamma-linolenic acid levels.

By the end of 12 weeks, those in the EPA/DHA group saw their prostate-specific antigen levels fall by 30% (0.44 to 0.31 ng/mL, p<0.004).  This compared to a 15% increase in the gamma-linolenic acid group (0.40 to 0.46 ng/mL, p<0.02) and a 33% drop in the Coenzyme Q10 group (0.45 to 0.30 ng/mL, p<0.002).

When suggesting mechanisms for these beneficial results with omega-3 fats and  CoQ10, researchers pointed to the ability of omega-3 fats to influence activity of an inflammatory enzyme called cyclo-oxygenase (11) and CoQ10’s significant antioxidant properties (12).  They went on to conclude that “Dietary supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids or CoQ10 may have a protective effect against developing prostate cancer and/or a therapeutic effect in men with prostate cancer.”

Source: Mohammad Reza Safarinejad, Nayyer Shafiei, Shiva Safarinejad. Effects of EPA, g-linolenic acid or coenzyme Q10 on serum prostate-specific antigen levels: a randomised, double-blind trial. British Journal of Nutrition (2013), 110, 164–171

© The Authors 2012

Posted December 20, 2012.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

References:

  1. Jemal A.  Cancer statistics, 2010. CA Cancer J Clin 2010; 60: 277–300.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – “Prostate Cancer: The Public Health Perspective (Fact Sheet 2003).”
  3. “Prostate Cancer” from the National Cancer Institute Website.
  4. “Long-Term Financial Costs Associated With Prostate Cancer Treatment” posted on Medical News Today December 24, 2006.
  5. Jemal A.  Global cancer statistics. CA Cancer J Clin 2011; 61: 69–90.
  6. Weaver KL.  Effect of dietary fatty acids on inflammatory gene expression in healthy humans. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:15400–15407.
  7. Simopoulos AP (2003) Importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids: evolutionary aspects. World Rev Nutr Diet 2003; 92: 1–22.
  8. Sugano M & Hirahara F (2000) Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the food chain in Japan. Am J Clin Nutr 71, 189S–96S.
  9. Safarinejad MR. Effects of EPA, γ-linolenic acid or coenzyme Q10 on serum prostate-specific antigen levels: a randomised, double-blind trial.  Br J Nutr 2012 Nov 30:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]
  10. “Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test” posted on the National Cancer Institute Website.
  11. Reese AC.  Omega-3 fatty acids, genetic variants in COX-2 and prostate cancer. J Nutrigenet Nutrigenomics 2009; 2: 149–158.
  12. Crane FL.  Biochemical functions of coenzyme Q10. J Am Coll Nutr 2001; 20: 591–598.