Recently published two new studies suggest that Omega-3′s cut the recurrence of colorectal cancer (CRC) by about a half. It turns out that certain dietary supplements containing Selenium can protect from a development of colorectal cancer, CRC, or even from its recurrence.

Researchers from the U.S. National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences reported that during the study omega-3 fatty acids cut the risk of developing colorectal cancer by nearly 40%.

These findings are in line with the other study carried out by cancer researchers from Italy. They found that the risk of developing colorectal cancer, CRC, can be cut by nearly 40 percent by consumption of a dietary supplement containing Selenium compound.

The researchers from both groups intend to present their findings on cancer prevention conference sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research at Dec. 7 in Houston.

Study Description

There were 411 people aged 25 to 75 involved in the selenium. They all had one or more colorectal polyps removed and were taking either a Selenium containing supplement or a placebo.

The described supplement (also an antioxidant compound) contain:

* 200 micrograms of SelenoMethionnine (a combination of selenium and Methionnine)
* 30 mgr of zinc
* 6,000 international units of vitamin A
* 180 mgr of vitamin C
* 30 mgr of vitamin E

Follow up test were done every one year, three years and five years after starting the regimen Colonoscopy was done in participants to determine the efficacy of the treatment. The results of the study clearly indicated that Selenium supplement helps prevent polyp recurrence:

Only 4.2% of participants who were taking the supplement suffered from the recurred polyps compared to 7.2 % of those who were taking the placebo.

Overall, study found that people taking the supplement had about a 40 percent reduction in the risk for a return of polyps.

The results of the study encouraged the researchers and according to their estimations even after 15 years, about 48 % of people taking the Selenium-supplement would stay free of polyps, versus near to 30 % of those who will not take the supplement.

A postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C. and the study’s lead author, Sangmi Kim suggested boosting omega-3 intake through diet or perhaps by taking an omega-3 supplement:

“Our finding clearly supports the evidence from previous experimental and clinical studies showing that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids inhibit tumor growth.”

Dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish oil and certain plant/nut oils. Good sources for Omega-3 fatty acids are:

Fish — oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, anchovies, sardines and tuna.

Omega-3 oils are found in plants also. Good sources for Omega-3 fatty acids are:

Plant-based sources — flax and flaxseed oil, Brussels sprouts, soybeans and soybean oil, canola oil, spinach, walnuts and kiwi.

Fish oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Plant-based sources such as some nuts (English walnuts) and vegetable oils (canola, soybean, flaxseed/linseed, olive) contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).