In a study published in the Jama Journal of Oncology; It has been observed that the level of fatty acid called PIFA in the blood of cancer patients using fish oil and consuming mackerel and herring rapidly increases, indicating that this situation will develop resistance to chemotherapy treatment and prevent the treatment from being sufficiently effective.
Fish oils, one of the most popular nutritional supplements in recent years; It is obtained from fish such as herring, mackerel, which are rich in beneficial fatty acids such as omega-3. The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, with their cholesterol-lowering and heart rhythm-regulating effects, and their positive effects on mental development in children are known. It also slows down the aging process of the brain; Protective effects against Alzheimer’s; Its positive effects on cognitive disorders such as depression and attention deficit are also known benefits. Fish oil is also a nutritional supplement recommended for both children and pregnant women. Therefore, it is frequently used by both healthy people and those with cancer and non-cancer diseases. However, in a recently published study that made a lot of noise, it was determined that patients receiving chemotherapy treatment had drawbacks in using these supplements.
The research team previously conducted a study on mice; determined that high levels of a type of fatty acid called platinum-induced fatty acid (PIFA) in the blood caused the development of resistance to chemotherapy drugs. In this study; Based on this, it has been thought and evaluated that the mentioned fatty acids may increase in the blood with the consumption of fish oils and some fish such as herring and mackerel, and may cause the development of resistance to chemotherapy drugs. On top of that, 10 ml of fish oil per day is given to some 30 cancer patients and 50 ml of fish oil is given to some of them; 10 gr daily for 20 cancer patients. The levels of this fatty acid in their blood were evaluated by giving mackerel, herring, tuna or salmon. As a result, it was observed that the level of this fatty acid in the blood increased rapidly in those who used fish oil and consumed mackerel and herring in 50 ml areas. This indicates that patients using these products will develop resistance to chemotherapy treatment, that is, the treatment will not be effective enough.
As a result; People generally make changes in their lifestyles and adopt healthier approaches after getting cancer. He quits smoking and alcohol, pays more attention to his diet and starts to use supplements such as vitamins and fish oils. Of course, it is very nice when people try to do something for their health. However, oncology is a branch that is much more sensitive than many other branches of medicine and the patient-physician relationship should be much stronger. It is extremely important and vital that patients share all kinds of initiatives, from the smallest lifestyle changes, to the nutritional supplements they use, to products under the name of alternative medicine, with their physicians and not to take any action without their approval. Because, as can be seen, even a simple fish oil can cause resistance to chemotherapy, which is one of the most basic treatment methods of cancer. It is also claimed that vitamins with their antioxidant effect can trigger cancer, contrary to what is known. The disasters caused by products under the name of alternative medicine, which are consumed uncontrollably and unconsciously, are already known. Please help your physicians to give you the most ideal treatments, in the most effective way and with the least harm, and consume even products that you consider simple and unimportant, within the control and knowledge of your physicians.
