Meta-Analysis of Long-Chain Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (LCω-3PUFA) and Prostate Cancer

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the potential association between LC omega-3PUFAs and prostate cancer (PC). A comprehensive literature search was performed through 2013 to identify prospective studies that examined dietary intakes of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC omega-3PUFA) or blood biomarkers of LC omega-3PUFA status and risk of PC. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to generate summary relative risk estimates (SRREs) for LC omega-3PUFAs and total PC, and by stage and grade. Subgroup analyses were also conducted for specific fatty acids and other study characteristics. Twelve self-reported dietary intake and 9 biomarker studies from independent study populations were included in the analysis, with 446,243 and 14,897 total participants, respectively. No association between LC omega-3PUFAs and total PC was observed (SRRE = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.93-1.09) for the dietary intake studies (high vs. low LC omega-3PUFAs category comparison) or for the biomarker studies (SRRE of 1.07, 95% CI: 0.94-1.20). In general, most summary associations for the dietary intake studies were in the inverse direction, whereas the majority of summary associations for the biomarker studies were in the positive direction, but all were weak in magnitude. The results from this meta-analysis do not support an association between LC omega-3PUFAs and PC.