A comparison of dietary fish oil and corn oil in experimental colorectal carcinogenesis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Rats fed either fish oil (n = 16) or corn oil (n = 16) in calorically and nutritionally balanced diets were injected with 1,2‐dimethylhydrazine, which is a colorectal specific carcinogen; differential colorectal tumor induction was then measured. In addition, plasma peroxide concentrations were measured in rats in each dietary group as well as in a group receiving a low‐fat diet, either with or without prior carcinogen treatment (n = 3 for each of the 6 groups). Tumor incidence did not differ between groups fed corn oil and fish oil. Tumor yield in the left colon was significantly lower in rats fed fish oil (p = 0.0499). Total colorectal tumors induced were also fewer in the rats fed fish oil (p = 0.065). Plasma peroxide concentrations were difficult to interpret because of the wide variation within groups. The data on tumor yield in the left colon support the hypothesis that a diet rich in n‐3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, may be less supportive of colorectal tumor development than a diet rich in n‐6 fatty acids, which is found in corn oil. However, the mechanism by which fish oil decreases tumor induction is still unknown.

This publication has 17 references indexed in Scilit: