Table 1 Breast Cancer and Omega 3:6 Ratio.
From: Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet
Reference | # of cases w/ breast cancer | # of controls | Post / pre Menopausal | Measure of n-3 / n-6 fat | Outcome | Odds ratio (95% Confidence Interval) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[183] | 565 | 554 (population and hospital) | Pre & post | Diet FFQ | ↑N3/N6 ratio in premenopausal women = Non-signif. ↓Breast cancer risk | 0.59 (0.29–1.19) |
|  |  |  |  |  | In study site with population controls, find ↑N3/N6 ratio = Signif ↓Breast Cancer risk | 0.50 (0.27, 0.95) |
[184] | EURAMIC study | Nested case-control study in population study | Post | Adipose tissue | 4 out of 5 centers showed ↑N3/N6 ratio = ↓Breast Cancer risk | 0.65 (p for trend = 0.55) |
[185] | 241 | 88 w/ benign breast disease | Both | Adipose tissue | ↑DHA = ↓Breast cancer | 0.31 (0.13–0.75) |
|  |  |  |  |  | ↑Ratio of long chain N-3:N-6 fat = ↓Breast cancer | 0.33 (0.17–0.66) |
[186] | 73 | 74 w/ macromastia | ? | Adipose tissue | N-6 fat content signif. higher in cases | P = 0.02 |
| Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | For given level of N-6 fat, EPA and DHA had a protective effect | P = 0.06 |
[187] | 71 (within ORDET study) | 142 (nested case control) | Post | RBC membranes | ↑DHA = ↓Breast cancer | 0.44 (0.21–0.92) |
[67] | 380 | 397 | Post | Adipose tissue | No associations between N-3:N-6 ratio and breast cancer | Â |
[188] | 314 (within Singapore Chinese Health study) |  |  | Diet, FFQ | ↑Intake of N-3 fat from fish / shellfish = ↓Breast cancer, for all 3 highest quartiles | 0.74 (0.58–0.94) |
|  |  |  |  |  | Among women in lowest quartile of N-3 fat intake, ↑N-6 fat intake = ↓Breast cancer | 1.87 (1.06–3.27) |