Muscles and Eyes May Also Benefit from Omega-3 Intake
New research finds that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in seafood (long-chain omega-3s) may reduce the risk of precancerous colorectal polyps in women, enhance the muscular benefits of strength training in older women and improve eye health after corneal surgery. These findings and more are summarized in the April 2012 PUFA Newsletter and Fats of Life e-newsletters for health professionals and consumers, respectively.
Researchers reported that among women aged 50 years and up who were screened for colorectal cancer, those with the highest consumption of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs had a 77 percent lower risk of developing colorectal polyps compared with women having the lowest intakes. Colorectal polyps can lead to colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in the U.S. In another study, older women who performed three months of guided strength training combined with fish oil supplementation had greater muscle strength and function compared with women who just did strength training.
"While these new observations need to be confirmed by others, they suggest additional advantages for women from omega-3 consumption," says PUFA Newsletter and Fats of Life Editor Joyce Nettleton, D.Sc. "We need more interventions to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer."