While the anticancer effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 fatty acids), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has been the subject of intense study, our understanding regarding the underlying mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids against cancer is still limited. Recent studies describing the cancer protective effect of EPA and DHA have sparked a renewed interest in using these fatty acids for cancer prevention and treatment. Here, we summarize the significance of omega- 3 fatty acids in the initiation and progression of cancer, and review the complex mechanisms by which EPA and DHA are thought to have anticancer activities during cancer development. It is concluded that omega-3 fatty acids may exert their anticancer actions by influencing multiple targets implicated in various stages of cancer development, including cell proliferation, cell survival, angiogenesis, inflammation, metastasis and epigenetic abnormalities that are crucial to the onset and progression of cancer.

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Cancer

Anticancer properties of oxidation products of docosahexaenoic acid.

The correction of a subtle nutritional deficiency that may reduce the risk of a future chronic disease is indeed a challenge. However, some specific examples in the past, such as the addition of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects and calcium and vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis, should provide some encouragement that some conditions can be prevented with the appropriate addition of a deficient compound. One of the most intriguing current and future impacts on public health may come from a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The omega-3 fatty acids continue to accumulate research that suggests that they may prevent a variety of diverse chronic diseases and potentially some acute clinical scenarios. In the first part of this article, the potential for these compounds to prevent certain cardiovascular conditions are discussed. In the second part, the potential for an impact in arthritis, numerous areas of cancer research, depression, maternal and child health, neurologic diseases, osteoporosis, and other medical disciplines are also briefly covered. The future appears bright for these agents, but specifically which conditions, who qualifies, testing, frequency, adequate sources, future trials, and numerous other questions need to be addressed and answered before the potential impact can catch up to the recent hype.

An introduction to dietary/supplemental omega-3 fatty acids for general health and prevention: Part II

n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are recognized as having an anti-inflammatory effect, which is initiated and propagated via a number of mechanisms involving the cells of the immune system. These include: eicosanoid profiles, membrane fluidity and lipid rafts, signal transduction, gene expression and antigen presentation. The wide-range of mechanisms of action of n-3 PUFAs offer a number of potential therapeutic tools with which to treat inflammatory diseases. In this review we discuss the molecular, animal model and clinical evidence for manipulation of the immune profile by n-3 PUFAs with respect to inflammatory bowel disease. In addition to providing a potential therapy for inflammatory bowel disease there is also recent evidence that abnormalities in fatty acid profiles, both in the plasma phospholipid membrane and in perinodal adipose tissue, may be a key component in the multi-factorial aetiology of inflammatory bowel disease. Such abnormalities are likely to be the result of a genetic susceptibility to the changing ratios of n-3 : n-6 fatty acids in the western diet. Evidence that the fatty acid components of perinodal adipose are fuelling the pro- or anti-inflammatory bias of the immune response is also reviewed.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2249.2005.02851.x

The potential interactions between polyunsaturated fatty acids and colonic inflammatory processes

It has now been found that after administration to a diseased person or person that is at risk for developing such disease of a neutraceutical or pharmaceutical composition that comprises
 a/ a lipid fraction comprising at least one of docosahexanoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); b/ a protein fraction comprising proteinaceous material from non-human origin which provide at least cysteine and/or taurine; and c/ a mineral fraction comprising at least one of manganese and molybdene, the health of these persons improves. Membrane function of several types of mammalian cells improves, which allows efficient treatment of immune related disorders, such as allergy, autoimmune diseases, cancer, cognitive dysfunction and other diseases of the nervous system, neuropathies, such as diabetic neuropathies and neuropathic pains, neuronal damage during insulin resistance, and gut diseases and support of the development of gut and lung function during growth or recovery.

Composition for improving membrane composition and functioning of cells

Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been indicated to induce anti-proliferative and/or apoptotic effects in various tumor cells. We showed that, at a 200- micro M concentration, both alpha-linoleic (18:2 n-6; LA) or docosahexaenoic (22:6 n-3; DHA) acid inhibited cell growth, while only DHA induced apoptosis in the human Paca-44 pancreatic cancer cell line. Investigating the mechanism underlying DHA-induced apoptosis, we showed that DHA induced a rapid and dramatic (>60%) intracellular depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH), without affecting oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Moreover, using two specific inhibitors of carrier-mediated GSH extrusion, cystathionine or methionine, we observed that GSH depletion occurred via an active GSH extrusion, and that inhibition of GSH efflux completely reversed apoptosis. These results provide the first evidence for a possible causative role of GSH depletion in DHA-induced apoptosis.

Induction of Apoptosis in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Docosahexaenoic Acid

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Induction of Apoptosis in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Docosahexaenoic Acid