Eicosapentaenoic acid impacts breast cancerRandomized dose-response trial of n-3 fatty acids in hormone receptor negative breast cancer survivors- impact on breast adipose oxylipin and DNA methylation patterns.
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We conducted a well-designed study to explore the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) combined with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on women who have survived estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative (ERPR-) breast cancer. This specific type of breast cancer is known to be more influenced by dietary fats, making our investigation both timely and relevant.
Over the course of 12 months, we administered either approximately 1 or 5 grams of EPA and DHA daily to participants who had recently completed standard treatment for ERPR- breast cancer. We collected blood and breast adipose tissue samples at regular intervals to analyze the levels of fatty acids, oxylipins, and examine changes in DNA methylation patterns.
Our findings revealed that higher doses of EPA and DHA significantly increased levels of fatty acids and their beneficial metabolites in breast tissue. Moreover, these changes were associated with distinct DNA methylation profiles, shedding light on potential new pathways through which these fatty acids could help reduce the risk of ERPR- breast cancer recurrence.
This research suggests that incorporating n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, like EPA and DHA, into the diets of breast cancer survivors may have both metabolic and epigenetic benefits, potentially playing a role in preventing the progression of this aggressive cancer subtype.
However, it’s worth noting that our study mixed EPA and DHA, making it challenging to attribute effects solely to EPA. Nevertheless, these promising results point to the importance of dietary fats in breast cancer survivorship.