title: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Consumption and Prostate Cancer: A Review of Exposure Measures and Results of Epidemiological Studies.
abstract: Animal studies have shown that dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3) may play a role in the development of prostate cancer, but the results of epidemiologic studies have been equivocal. Associations in humans may vary depending on study design, measurement methodology of fatty acid intake, intake ranges, and stage of cancer development. To address this, we identified 36 published studies through PubMed (Medline) from 1993 through 2013 on long-chain n-3s and prostate cancer. Exposure measurements included dietary assessment and biomarker levels. Associations for total, early, and late stage prostate cancer were examined by subgroup of study design and exposure measure type and by using forest plots to illustrate the relative strength of associations within each subgroup. We also tested for potential threshold effects by considering studies that included measurement cut-points that met intake levels recommended by the American Heart Association. We found no consistent evidence supporting a role of n-3s in either the causation or prevention of prostate cancer at any stage or grade. Results did not vary appreciably by study design, exposure measurement, intake level, or stage of cancer development.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Dinwiddie
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health.|c University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee ; Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Medical Center , Knoxville , Tennessee.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.affiliation: b Department of Nutrition.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.affiliation: d Department Surgery , Emory University , Atlanta , Georgia.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Patzer
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016239:MEDLINE; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid
keywords: epidemiological; fatty acids; omega-3; prostate cancer