The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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    Effect of omega-3 and -6 on colorectal adenoma risk

     Researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands have studied the relationship between omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and the risk of colorectal adenoma — a benign tumor.

    First, the details.

    • 861 patients with colorectal adenoma or free of this condition were studied.
    • Associations between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid blood levels and colorectal adenoma risk were made using endoscopy.
    • The results were adjusted for age, gender, and alcohol intake.

    And, the results.

    • Higher omega-3 blood levels were associated with a significantly lower risk of colorectal adenoma.
    • Higher blood levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (both omega-3s) and the omega-3/-6 ratio were associated with lower colorectal adenoma risk, but not significantly.
      • When the amount of omega-3 increases relative to omega-6, the ratio goes up.
    • In contrast, increased total omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid (an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid) were associated with a significant increase in the risk for colorectal adenoma.

    The bottom line?
    Apparently, this is the first evaluation of omega-3 and -6 in the same study.

    But caution, Susan Allport, author of “The Queen of Fats,” warns that omega-6 fatty acids are not “bad.” In fact they are essential for health. We just have too many of them.

    9/24/08 20:52 JR

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