Omega-3s May Protect Against Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a major public health concern, and the majority of cases are caused by solar ultraviolet radiation exposure, which suppresses skin immunity. In that animal studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids exert a protective effect against photoimmunosuppression and skin cancer, Lesley Rhodes, from The University of Manchester (United Kingdom), and colleagues enrolled 79 men and women, ages 22 to 60 years, to consume either a supplement containing 5 g of omega-3 fatty acids (70% eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and 10% docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]), or a control pill, daily for three months. The subjects were then exposed to the equivalent of 8, 15, or 30 minutes of summer midday sun using a light machine that emitted solar-simulated radiation. The team observed that immunosuppression was 50% lower in subjects who took the omega-3 supplement and were exposed to 8 or 15 minutes of simulated sunlight, as compared to people who did not take the supplement. The study authors conclude that: "Oral [omega-3 fatty acids] appear to abrogate photoimmunosuppression in human skin, providing additional support for their chemopreventive role.”