Prenatal and lactational diet could shield female offspring from breast cancer in later life

21/04/05 Mothers who eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and while nursing, and who continue to feed their babies such a diet after weaning, may reduce their daughters' risk of developing breast cancer later in life dramatically, according to research presented at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Either maternal or post-weaning dietary consumption of omega-3 fatty acids through food or supplements at any point in life from conception to at least puberty - also could reduce the incidence rate for breast cancer in female offspring significantly.

Conversely, mothers' consumption of omega-6 fats commonly found in Western diets could increase their daughters' risk of breast cancer.

Omega-3 fatty acids occur most commonly in fish - especially cold-water fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel - as well as in canola and flaxseed oils, soybeans and nuts.

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research is a professional society of more than 24,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical scientists engaged in all areas of cancer research in the United States and in more than 60 other countries. AACR's mission is to accelerate the prevention and cure of cancer through research, education, communication, and advocacy. Its principal activities include the publication of five major peer-reviewed scientific journals: Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. AACR's Annual Meetings attract more than 15,000 participants who share new and significant discoveries in the cancer field. Specialty meetings, held throughout the year, focus on the latest developments in all areas of cancer research.

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