• Print
• Share
• Top

• Home
• Search Therapies
• Search Therapy Summaries
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Guidelines
Treatment
Wellness
Risk
Cautions
Integrative
Plans
Dosing
More
Information

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) found naturally in these foods and supplements:

Expand list

Clinical Practice Guidelines

2013 evidence-based clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians recommended oral nutritional supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids to improve the nutritional status for lung cancer patients with sarcopenia (loss of muscle tissue).²

Treating the Cancer

Working against cancer growth or spread, improving survival, or working with other treatments or therapies to improve their anticancer action

Clinical Evidence

A group of men with prostate cancer combining omega 3 supplements with a  low-fat (15 percent of calories from fat) diet for four to six weeks before prostatectomy was compared to a control group consuming the standard American diet with 40 percent of calories from fat and no fish oil supplementation. At prostatectomy, the supplement group had smaller prostates (both benign and malignant components), lower proliferation index, and plasma that inhibited growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro more than the plasma from the control patients.³

Lab and Animal Evidence

Read more

Managing Side Effects and Promoting Wellness

Managing or relieving side effects or symptoms, reducing treatment toxicity, supporting quality of life or promoting general well-being

Omega-3 fatty acid (EPA and DHA) capsules or supplements with EPA have been associated with weight stabilization, gain in lean body mass, and improvement in quality of life markers in patients losing weight as a result of advanced pancreatic and head and neck cancers.⁶ The weight of patients with gastrointestinal cancer increased significantly with EPA supplementation.⁷

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids combined with guarana extract and a diet rich in whole foods, fruits and vegetables can treat cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer.⁸

Nutritional supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, arginine and nucleotides results in a marked improvement of immune functions in cancer patients undergoing surgery and a reduction in infectious complications, hospital stay and co-morbidities.⁹

Reducing Risk

Reducing the risk of developing cancer or the risk of recurrence

Clinical Evidence

Substantial data support the importance of omega-3 fatty acids for colorectal cancer prevention.¹⁰

Higher omega-6/omega-3 ratios are associated with higher risk of breast cancer,¹¹ while higher consumption of dietary marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.¹²

Data on omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for prostate cancer prevention are inconclusive. A 2017 review of the literature showed no clear relationship between fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids and risk of prostate cancer,¹³ but a separate review found that consumption of  omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) and "an omega-6/omega-3 ratio of 2-4:1 are associated with a reduced risk of breast, prostate, colon and renal cancers."¹⁴

Lab and Animal Evidence

Read more

Cautions

A few cautions are noted. Please see the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s About Herbs website for information.

• High blood concentrations of omega-3s are associated with increased risk of prostate cancer (see the Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine for an analysis of the study that found this).
• A type of omega-3 fatty acid, 16:4(n-3), can reduce the activity of the chemotherapy drug cisplatin.
• A few adverse reactions and interactions with prescription and other drugs have been observed. 

Dosing

BCCT does not recommend therapies or doses, but only provides information for patients and providers to consider as part of a complete treatment plan. Patients should discuss therapies with their physicians, as contraindications, interactions and side effects must be evaluated. Levels of active ingredients of natural products can vary widely between and even within products. See Quality and Sources of Herbs, Supplements and Other Natural Products.

Dosage recommendations are available from these sources:

• Your Health Solution
• Breast Cancer Supplement Recommendations
• Colorectal Cancer Supplement Recommendations
• Endometrial Cancer Supplement Recommendations
• Lung Cancer Supplement Recommendations
• Prostate Cancer Supplement Recommendations
• Natural Medicines Database (requires purchase)
• Also see the protocols listed below.

Integrative Plans, Protocols and Medical Systems

• Plans, protocols and programs
• Abrams & Weil integrative medicine approaches¹⁶
  • Symptom management
  • Lung cancer
  • Prostate cancer
• Alschuler & Gazella complementary approaches¹⁷
• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Lung cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Block program¹⁸
  • Breast cancer case study
  • Lung cancer case study
  • Prostate cancer case study
  • Core diet plan
  • Remission support diet
  • Chemotherapy coupler
  • Radiation therapy coupler
  • Normalizing coagulation
  • Blocking inflammation
  • Blocking tumor-fueling enzymes
  • Boosting immune surveillance
  • Self-care program for stress chemistry and circadian rhythm
• Chang strategies¹⁹
• Lemole, Mehta & McKee protocols²⁰
• Breast cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
• McKinney protocols²¹
  • Breast cancer
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • General cancer
  • Leukemia
  • Melanoma
  • Myelodysplastic syndrome
  • Prostate cancer
  • Sarcoma
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Weight loss
• Traditional systems
  • Ayurveda
  • Traditional Chinese medicine

Written by Nancy Hepp, MS, and reviewed by Laura Pole, RN, MSN, OCNS; most recent update on January 14, 2019. Note: BCCT has not conducted an independent review of research of Omega-3 fatty acids. This summary draws from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s About Herbs and other sources as noted. 

1. WebMD. The Facts on Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Viewed December 1, 2017.
2. Deng GE, Rausch SM et al. Complementary therapies and integrative medicine in lung cancer: diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest. 2013 May;143(5 Suppl):e420S-e436S.
3. Abrams DI. An integrative approach to prostate cancer. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2018 Sep/Oct;24(9-10):872-880.
4. Serna-Thomé G, Castro-Eguiluz D et al. Use of functional foods and oral supplements as adjuvants in cancer treatment. Revista de Investigacion Clinica. 2018;70(3):136-146. 
5. Khadge S, Sharp JG et al. Immune regulation and anti-cancer activity by lipid inflammatory mediators. International Immunopharmacology. 2018 Dec;65:580-592.
6. Deng GE, Frenkel M et al. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for integrative oncology: complementary therapies and botanicals. Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. 2009 Summer;7(3):85-120.
7. Lavriv DS, Neves PM, Ravasco P. Should omega-3 fatty acids be used for adjuvant treatment of cancer cachexia? Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2018 Jun;25:18-25.
8. Pereira PTVT, Reis AD et al. Dietary supplements and fatigue in patients with breast cancer: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. 2018 Oct;171(3):515-526.
9. Soldati L, Di Renzo L et al. The influence of diet on anti-cancer immune responsiveness. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2018 Mar 20;16(1):75.
10. Song M, Chan AT. Environmental factors, gut microbiota, and colorectal cancer prevention. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2019 Jan;17(2):275-289.
11. Serna-Thomé G, Castro-Eguiluz D et al. Use of functional foods and oral supplements as adjuvants in cancer treatment. Revista de Investigacion Clinica. 2018;70(3):136-146.
12. Zheng JS, Hu XJ, Zhao YM, Yang J, Li D. Intake of fish and marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of breast cancer: meta-analysis of data from 21 independent prospective cohort studies. BMJ. 2013 Jun 27;346:f3706. 
13. Aucoin M, Cooley K et al. Fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids and prostate cancer: a systematic review. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2017 Mar;16(1):32-62.
14. Zárate R, El Jaber-Vazdekis N, Tejera N, Pérez JA, Rodríguez C. Significance of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in human health. Clinical and Translational Medicine. 2017 Dec;6(1):25.
15. Serna-Thomé G, Castro-Eguiluz D et al. Use of functional foods and oral supplements as adjuvants in cancer treatment. Revista de Investigacion Clinica. 2018;70(3):136-146. 
16. Abrams DI, Weil AT. Integrative Oncology, 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 2014.
17. Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
18. Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
19. Chang R. Beyond the Magic Bullet: The Anti-Cancer Cocktail. New York: Square One Publishers. 2012.
20. Lemole G, Mehta P, McKee D. After Cancer Care: The Definitive Self-Care Guide to Getting and Staying Well for Patients with Cancer. New York, New York: Rodale, Inc. 2015.
21. McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016.

View All References

More Information

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s About Herbs website: Omega-3
• American Institute for Cancer Research website: more than 100 articles and scientific reports on omega-3 fatty acids and cancer
• TRC Natural Medicines website (subscription is required): in-depth information, ratings of effectiveness and safety and evaluation of specific omega-3 fatty acid products   
• Consumer Labs: Product Review (subscription required): Fish Oil and Omega-3 and -7 Fatty Acids Supplement Review
• Moss Reports (purchase required): Select from the list of cancers down the left side of the page for a report describing uses of conventional, complementary, alternative and integrative therapies related to that cancer. Ralph Moss is among the most knowledgeable and balanced researchers of integrative cancer therapies. The cost of his Moss Reports is not negligible, but many patients find them of considerable value. Moss is also available for consultations.
• National Cancer Institute: Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Lone Star Medical Group: Natural Alternative Treatments
• Michael Lerner: Choices In Healing: Integrating the Best of Conventional and Complementary Approaches to Cancer
• Lorenzo Cohen and Alison Jefferies: Anticancer Living: Transform Your Life and Health with the Mix of Six
• Keith I. Block, MD: Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Treatment
• Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, and Karolyn Gazella: The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing
• Ted Schettler, MD, MPH: The Ecology of Breast Cancer: The Promise of Prevention and the Hope for Healing
• Neil McKinney, BSc, ND: Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition
• Donald I. Abrams, MD, and Andrew T. Weil, MD: Integrative Oncology, 2nd Edition
• Raymond Chang, MD: Beyond the Magic Bullet: The Anti-Cancer Cocktail
• Keith Block and others: A Broad-Spectrum Integrative Design for Cancer Prevention and Therapy