• 2021-04-14
    We evaluated the associations between serum omega-3 and omega-6 poly-unsaturated fatty acid levels and colon cancer risk in a study conducted between 1997 and 2002. We included 363 cases of colon cancer and 498 disease-free controls. Serum omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acid levels were inversely associated with colon cancer risk. Subjects in the upper 33% of serum omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids had a 33% lower risk of colon cancer as compared with subjects in the lower 33% of serum omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids. In contrast, the risk of colon cancer was increased by omega-6 poly-unsaturated fatty acids by 68%. This is the first study that simultaneously finds an inverse association of serum omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids and a positive association of omega-6 poly-unsaturated fatty acids with colon cancer. The study design is a: