Fish oil and glucosamine have been popular health supplements for a long time. People have mostly used fish oil for the heart health and glucosamine for arthritic joints. But did you know they also might help cancer patients live longer? A new study in the Nutrition Journal looked at how these supplements could affect the health of people with cancer. The results might surprise you.
What Did the Study Find?
The study analyzed data from nearly 15,000 people in their 50s and 60s in the UK Biobank who were diagnosed with cancer. They measured dietary and supplement intakes at the beginning of the study and monitored outcomes for about 12 years. Over time the researchers found that people who took fish oil had an 11% lower chance of dying from any cause, including cancer, compared to those who didn’t. Even more impressive, those who took glucosamine had a 17% lower risk of dying from any cause. You can read more about the study here.
The article reported that individuals with lower cardiovascular health, as measured by the American Heart Association's Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score, experienced the most pronounced protective effects. For people with poor cardiovascular health fish oil or glucosamine lowered all cause death by 13% and 31%, respectively. For those with a poor cancer prognosis using fish oil or glucosamine resulted in about a 25% lower risk of cancer death or death from any cause. Both fish oil and glucosamine have anti-inflammatory effects, which could be part of why they are so beneficial. These results make sense, as people in generally good health don't notice the effects as much from taking dietary supplements as those who are in poor health.
How Does This Compare to Other Studies?
This isn’t the first time researchers have noticed the potential benefits of these supplements. Previous studies have also found that glucosamine can lower the risk of dying from all causes and heart-related issues by about 15-18%. For example, a study in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases showed similar findings. (Read it here)
Fish oil has also shown promising results. Research published in the BMJ found that people who regularly took fish oil had a 13% lower risk of dying from any cause and a 16% lower risk of dying from heart disease. (Check it out here)
However, not all research agrees. Some studies didn’t find the same protective effects, especially for cancer. For example, a review of randomized clinical trials published in 2014 in BMC Public Health found no significant link between fish oil and lower cancer risks. (Read more here) My analysis of these studies has found that these controlled trials did not use adequate doses and didn't measure the omega 3 index to see if participants reached a protective level of EPA + DHA in their bodies.
It's worth noting that the study in the Nutrition Journal didn’t examine how much fish oil or glucosamine the participants were actually taking. This is an important detail because, as I mentioned in a previous blog article on fish oil (read it here), the dose required to reach optimal blood levels of EPA + DHA is closer to 2 grams per day. For larger individuals, like athletes or football players, the necessary dose might be even higher.
So, if you really want to know if you are taking enough fish oil, you should order a test kit for the Omega-3 Index. Measuring your Omega-3 Index can bring peace of mind by confirming that your supplement regimen is achieving the desired effects.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you or a family member of a close friend is dealing with cancer, these findings are encouraging. But keep in mind that supplements like fish oil and glucosamine are not silver bullets. Nutrients don't work like drugs. They’re one part of a bigger health puzzle. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and good medical care are all key pieces too.
At Hallelujah Diet, we offer a more detailed plan to help you achieve optimal nutrition when facing a cancer diagnosis. It’s called the Cancer Rescue Plan. Our Cancer Rescue Plan does not cure or treat cancer. Instead, it provides information to help you understand the cancer process, a dietary plan known as the Hallelujah Recovery Diet, and dietary supplements designed to support your body with what it needs so that it can heal itself. Fish oil by itself is a good start, but it is just one part of solving the bigger health puzzle.
The Bottom Line
Fish oil and glucosamine might be worth considering, especially if you’re looking to support your health during a tough time like cancer treatment. Beating inflammation is a key step in many chronic diseases, including cancer. So, move towards more of an an anti-inflammatory diet that includes more fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, legumes and whole grains, like the Hallelujah Diet, and use supplements as an extra boost to fill in the gaps.
