Voedingsadvies El MondoResearch Question:
α-linolenic acid (ALA) is considered as a heart-protective nutrient, however some epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of ALA increases the risk of prostate cancer. It was therefore carried out this review article.
Α-linolenic acid eating increases the chance of getting prostate cancer?
Study Design:
This overview article contained 12 studies (7 case-control studies and 5 prospective cohort studies) with 14795 patients with prostate cancer and 231143 controls (those without prostate cancer).
The dosage of α-linolenic acid was 0.05-4.16 g per day and was obtained through FAHIM.
There was no question of publication bias.
Results and conclusions:
The researchers found that eating a lot of α-linolenic acid (3.91 g/day) compared with little (0.7 g/day), the chance of getting prostate cancer not significant with 8% [95% CI = 1.29-0.90, p = 0.40, I2 = 85%, p 0.00001] increased. Not significant is, there is no link to a 95% reliability.
The researchers found in 7 case-control studies (4047 4762 patients and controls) that eating a lot of α-linolenic acid (3.91 g/day) compared with little (0.7 g/day), the chance of getting prostate cancer does not significantly with 30% [95% CI = 0.81-2.07, p = 0.27, I2 = 90%, p 0.00001] increased. Not significant is, there is no link to a 95% reliability.
The researchers found in 5 prospective cohort studies (10748 207752 patients and controls) that eating a lot of α-linolenic acid (3.91 g/day) compared with little (0.7 g/day), the chance of getting prostate cancer does not significantly with 5% [95% CI = 0.84-1.09, p = 0.59, I2 = 69%, p 0.01] reduced.
But in the sensitivity analysis where 1 cohort study was omitted (which disappeared the heterogeneity) researchers found that eating a lot of α-linolenic acid (3.91 g/day) compared with little (0.7 g/day), the chance of getting prostate cancer significantly with 9% [95% CI = 0.83-0.99, p = 0.02, I2 = 8%, p = 0.35] reduced.
The researchers concluded that there is no connection existed between the food of α-linolenic acid and prostate cancer.
Original title:
Case – control and dietary α-linolenic acid intake or prospective studies and prostate cancer risk: a meta-analysis by Carleton, AJ, Sievenpiper JL, [...], Jenkins DJA.
Link:
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/3/5/e002280.full
Additional information about El Mondo:
α-linolenic acid is in some vegetable oils. The main sources of α-linolenic acid are: flax seed oil (55%), Sacha Inchi oil (-48%), Chia seed (18%), walnuts (10%), rice bran oil (1%) and further slightly in green leafy vegetables.
How many α-linolenic acid (ALA) in a product, you can look up here.
Read more about fats.