A team of researchers from the United States considers that omega-3 fatty acids can contribute to immunotherapy against cancer, as revealed by a scientific institution.

The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School stated that dietary interventions can be powerful tools because they are relatively simple and inexpensive to implement. Omega-3s can help reduce the risk of cancer, while consuming too many omega-6 fatty acids can stimulate the disease. Experts point out that the sources of the former are fish, nuts and seeds, while the latter is found in meat, eggs and other foods.

The experts aimed to find out “how diets supplemented with these fatty acids affected the antitumor activity of immune checkpoint blockade immunotherapy and of an anti-inflammatory therapy that inhibits the soluble epoxide hydrolase enzyme.” During the study, two groups of mice were made: one received a diet rich in omega-3 and the other omega-6 for 10 days before the injection of the tumor and during the duration of the investigation.

A week later, mice in each diet group began receiving immunotherapy, anti-inflammatory therapy, both therapies together, or no treatment, the scientists explained. The results – the source points out – suggest that omega-3 fatty acids could help immunotherapy and other treatments to better fight cancer. The team showed that the combination of immunotherapy and anti-inflammatory treatment was more effective when mice were fed omega-3-enriched diets.