title: The role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
abstract: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Dietary fatty acids, especially n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), are believed to play a role in reducing BC risk. Evidence has shown that fish consumption or intake of long-chain n-3 PUFA, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are beneficial for inhibiting mammary carcinogenesis. The evidence regarding α-linolenic acid (ALA), however, remains equivocal. It is essential to clarify the relation between ALA and cancer since ALA is the principal source of n-3 PUFA in the Western diet and the conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is not efficient in humans. In addition, the specific anticancer roles of individual n-3 PUFA, alone, have not yet been identified. Therefore, the present review evaluates ALA, EPA and DHA consumed individually as well as in n-3 PUFA mixtures. Also, their role in the prevention of BC and potential anticancer mechanisms of action are examined. Overall, this review suggests that each n-3 PUFA has promising anticancer effects and warrants further research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Health & Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada. jliu22@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: Jiajie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Health & Nutritional Sciences, College of Biological Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada. davidma@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: David W L
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid