The new study, which was funded by World Cancer Research Fund, followed 476,160 people for 15 years from all over Europe*. Previous research by WCRF only found limited evidence that consuming fish may be linked with a reduced risk of bowel cancer but this new study provides stronger evidence that we should all be eating more fish.
The study found that those who ate more than three portions of fish a week had a 12% lower risk of developing bowel cancer compared to those who ate less than one portion a week**. Current UK diet guidelines suggest eating at least two portions of fish a week.
Dr Marc Gunter, the lead researcher from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), said:
Our research shows that eating fish appears to reduce the risk of bowel cancer and should be encouraged as part of a healthy diet. One down fall of the study is that dietary data collected from participants did not include information on fish oil supplement intake. This unmeasured fish oil supplementation may also have an effect on bowel cancer, so further studies will be needed to see if fish or fish oil influence bowel cancer risk.
Dr Anna Diaz Font, Head of Research Funding at WCRF, said:
This large study adds to the scientific evidence suggesting that consuming fish could reduce the risk of bowel cancer. The biological reasons by which fish consumption potentially lowers risk are not fully understood but one of the theories include specific fatty acids such as omega-3, found almost exclusively in fish, being responsible for this protective effect via their anti-inflammatory properties.
The authors of the study attempted to test this hypothesis and so also looked at intake of omega-3 in the participants diet and the same correlation was observed; higher omega-3 in the diet reduces the risk of bowel cancer. This supports the theory that omega-3 may be responsible for the potential protective effect of fish against bowel cancer. The study found no link between eating shellfish alone and bowel cancer.
Bowel cancer statistics in the UK
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the cancer with the second highest death rate. In 2015, 43,178 cases of bowel cancer were diagnosed. Around 40% of all cancer cases could be prevented if everyone had healthier lifestyles, this includes being a healthy weight, doing more exercise and eating a balanced diet.
