Effect of n-3 Fatty Acids on Rat Mammary Tumor Metastasis
Author Information
Author(s): L.M. Adams, J.R. Trout, R.A. Karmali
Primary Institution: Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories Research Inc.
Hypothesis
Dietary fish oil rich in n-3 fatty acids inhibits the metastasis of rat mammary tumors.
Conclusion
Dietary fish oil did not significantly inhibit lung metastases in the spontaneous model but showed some effects in the experimental model.
Supporting Evidence
- Fish oil diets showed a reduction in the frequency of metastatic foci in the lung compared to high-fat controls.
- Body weight gain was higher in rats on fish oil diets compared to those on low-fat corn oil diets.
- Significant reductions in tumor volume were observed with fish oil diets in the experimental model.
Takeaway
Feeding rats fish oil might help reduce the spread of certain tumors, but it didn't work as well in all cases.
Methodology
Rats were fed different diets containing varying amounts of corn oil and fish oil, and tumor growth and metastasis were measured.
Limitations
The study did not find significant differences in some comparisons, and the effects varied between spontaneous and experimental models.
Participant Demographics
Weanling Fischer 344 female rats.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0004 and 0.0066
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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