Omega-3 Fats Curb the Growth and Spread of Liver Cancer

June 4, 2006

http://www.mercola.com/2006/apr/20/omega-3_fats_curb_the_growth_spread_of_liver_cancer.htm

Two new studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids could inhibit thegrowth of liver cancer cells, suggesting that they could be aneffective therapy for treating and preventing liver cancers.

Programmed Cell Death

The first study examined the effects omega-3 and omega-6 fats inhepatocellular carcinoma cells. Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts foras much as 90 percent of all liver cancers and is usually quicklyfatal. The omega-6 fats had no effect on cancer cells, but theomega-3s -- in the form of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) andeicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) -- induced apoptosis (programmed cellulardeath).

Works on Two Kinds of Cancer

In the second study, omega-3 fats proved just as effective in treatingcholangiocarcinoma tumor cells, an aggressive and fatal type of livercancer that forms in bile ducts.

A Treatment and a Preventative Measure

The researchers stated that omega-3 fatty acids could not only be aneffective therapy for liver cancers but could also protect the liverfrom steatohepatitis, a chronic liver disease believed to be aprecursor to cancer.

RxPG News April 3, 2006

Nutra Ingredients.com April 4, 2006

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

If you to my newsletter, you already know how omega-3 fatsprevent the spread of prostate cancer. Looks like they may be just aseffective for liver cancer.

One of the best things you can do for your health and to reduce yourrisk of cancer and heart disease is to take a high quality omega-3oil. This is one of the most non-controversial recommendations toimprove your health that I know of.

Fish would be a perfect solution to obtain your omega-3 fats, but Ican't recommend it because most all commercial fish have been taintedwith mercury and toxic solvents like PCBs for the last few decades.

That is one of the reasons I am so happy to have recently learnedabout krill oil.

Krill is at the bottom of the food chain and is free of all of theheavy metals like mercury, and PCBs and dioxins that are present inmany fish. It is simply one of the most amazing clean source ofomega-3 fats.Krill only grow about to one inch or so and are harvestedin the pristine clean waters of the Antarctic.

They also are present in a phospholipid form which radically increasestheir absorption which allows them to work more effectively in yourbrain. This form virtually eliminates any belching or burping fish oiltaste. It also increases absorption so you only need two smallcapsules a day

As for cancer in general, since it is now the number one cause ofdeath for most Americans you will also want to review the detailedchecklist I wrote last year to help you radically lower your cancer risk:

1. Control your insulin levels: Make certain that you limit yourintake of processed foods and sugars as much as possible.

2. Of course, get appropriate amounts of animal-based omega-3 fats.

3. Get appropriate exercise. One of the primary reasons exercise worksis that it drives your insulin levels down. Controlling insulin levelsis one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks.

4. Normalize your vitamin D levels with safe amounts of sun exposure.This works primarily by optimizing your vitamin D level. If you haveregular access to sun exposure then you should use fish oil, not codliver oil, as your primary source of omega-3 fats. Ideally, it wouldbe best to monitor your vitamin D levels.

5. Eat according to your metabolic type. The potent anti-cancereffects of this principle are very much underappreciated. When wetreat cancer patients in our clinic this is one of the most powerfulanti-cancer strategies we have.

6. Have a tool to permanently erase the neurological short-circuitingthat can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent ofdisease is caused by emotions. It is likely that this factor may bemore important than all the other physical ones listed here, so makesure this is addressed. Energy psychology seems to be one of the bestapproaches and my particular favorite tool, as you may know, is theEmotional Freedom Technique.

7. Only 25 percent of people eat enough vegetables, so by all meanseat as many vegetables as you are comfortable with. Ideally, theyshould be fresh and organic. However, please understand that,frequently, fresh conventionally grown vegetables are healthier thanorganic ones that are older and wilted in the grocery store. They arecertainly better than no vegetables at all, so don't use that as anexcuse. If you are a carb metabolic type you may need up to 300percent more vegetables than a protein metabolic type.

8. Make sure you are not in the two-thirds of the population who areoverweight and maintain an ideal body weight.

9. Get enough high-quality sleep.

10. Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides,household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution.

11. Boil, poach or steam your foods, rather than frying orcharbroiling them.