Omega supplements - help

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  • rrs
    rrs Member Posts: 614
    edited September 2007

    I just purchased a product called Fisol which is coated and isn't supposed to cause upset stomach. It has 500 mg fish oil; Omega 3, EPA and DHA with no soy or flax.  Will start taking it and see how it works.

    I have read conflicting information about flax. First it was a no-no for ER+ and then it was OK. I also read that Black Cohosh was bad for ER+ and then that it wasn't.

    I also purchased today a liquid cal/mag with D3 and just now reading the label noticed that it has parabens in it.  Now I don't know if I should take it or return it. 

    I got Calms Forte' which is an herbal formulation for sleep.  I looked up the herbs on the internet and read that two of the herbs - avena sativa and humulus lupulus (oats and hops) are not good for ER+.  Oats and hops!  Bread and beer!  Come on now....

    This is such a confusing and frustrating thing. I'm trying to do what is best but don't want to worry about it either.  Sometimes I think they are taking this do/don't to the microscopic level where it is interpreted differently by different scientists and studies where there are so many other variables they don't consider.  I'm getting so tired of trying to find out what need to do and my oncologist isn't into supplements - he said to take a multi-vitamin and Oscal.  :-\

    Wine is a no-no for bc but I drink it anyway!  Sorry for the minor ranting.

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  • cats_love_me
    cats_love_me Member Posts: 109
    edited September 2007

    For some that are taking the fish oil in the liquid gels.  My SIL puts them in the freezer, that way she doesn't get the burp up.

    I take the carson brand cod liver oil, although I"m going to switch to the fish oil soon.  Main reason I take the liquid is that I have really bad reflux, and sinus problems.  Well, the oil coats my throat.  When I go on vacation, I have more problems when I just take the liquid capsules. 

    HTH

    Connie

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  • erika-canada
    erika-canada Member Posts: 142
    edited September 2007

    Hi:

    Just wanted to say this is a big dilema for me as well. People forget that these supplements are very potent and can actually do more harm than good---as they are not treated as medications. which they are technically. i've read, over last few years, in very reliable magazines, people with ER+ should not take black cohosh, flax, soy, or fish oils; among others I can't recall momentarily (chemo brain). keeping this in mind, haven't taken any supplements at all...being on Warfarin, among other medications....also need to be careful. What's a person to do?

    sending hugs and good wishes,

    erika

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  • Rosemary44
    Rosemary44 Member Posts: 2,660
    edited September 2007

    Erika,

    That magazine might be correct.   I went to look at why we shouldn't be taking fish oil and found this study about eating fish and ER+ BC published in 2003.

    http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/133/11/3664

    Now on to looking for info on just fish oil. 

    Fish oil seems to be protective:

    1: J Nutr. 2007 Mar;137(3):548-53.Click here to read Links

    Comment in:
    J Nutr. 2007 Mar;137(3):545-7.

    (n-3) PUFA alter raft lipid composition and decrease epidermal growth factor receptor levels in lipid rafts of human breast cancer cells.

    Schley PD, Brindley DN, Field CJ.

    Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5.

    To determine the mechanism by which the (n-3) fatty acids (FA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decrease proliferation and induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, we examined the effects of EPA and DHA on the lipid composition of lipid rafts as well as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) raft localization and phosphorylation. (n-3) FA (a combination of EPA and DHA) inhibited (P < 0.05) the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells by 48-62% in the presence and absence, respectively, of linoleic acid (LA). More EPA and DHA were incorporated into lipid rafts isolated from MDA-MB-231 cells after treatment with (n-3) FA compared with cells treated with LA (P < 0.05). EPA and DHA treatment decreased (P < 0.05) lipid raft sphingomyelin, cholesterol, and diacylglycerol content and, in the absence of LA, EPA and DHA increased (P < 0.05) raft ceramide levels. Furthermore, there was a marked decrease in EGFR levels in lipid rafts, accompanied by increases in the phosphorylation of both EGFR and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), in EPA+DHA-treated cells (P < 0.05). As sustained activation of the EGFR and p38 MAPK has been associated with apoptosis in human breast cancer cells, our results indicate that (n-3) FA modify the lipid composition of membrane rafts and alter EGFR signaling in a way that decreases the growth of breast tumors.

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  • kuchagirl
    kuchagirl Member Posts: 66
    edited September 2007

    My onc just asked me to stop taking fish oil, and instead try eating more fish.  Conveniently, at a routine appointment, I had a deep black/purple bruise, and it sparked the discussion.  I've been bruising more than usual, even though I'm on Tam.  My onc thinks it's the fish oil.  I'll try stopping it for a few months.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2007

    Also make sure that you're getting enough vitamin C. A deficiency can cause a tendency to bruise easily.

    ~Marin

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  • kuchagirl
    kuchagirl Member Posts: 66
    edited September 2007

    SherriG & Marin,

    Thanks for your comments.  My onc offered to do a CBC on me today, and I deferred because I had a CBC about 6 weeks ago which was WNL.  The fellow (who sat in on the discussion) suggested that I could just keep taking the fish oil (for my heart) & just get used to occasional big bruises.  I only take 1 capsule a day, which I know is below the daily dosage that most people take.  My overall Vitamin C intake hasn't changed, but I did start taking fish oil about 4 months ago & the bruising started about 3 1/2 months ago, so that's the variable that I can see.  I'm surprised that fish oil ingestion could have such a dramatic and specific impact on bruising.  I guess I think that most supplements are a waste of money, and maybe I need to rethink that. 

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