Obesity as an important risk factor for certain types of cancer

Cancer could be described as the uncontrolled and unrestricted growth of malignant cells in any place of the body. It is a multifactorial disease which either heredity or environmental factors [such as nutrition, physical inactivity, alcohol, obesity, exposure to sun, environmental pollutants, infections] chip in incidence of cancer. In recent years, several researchers have focused on obesity as a potent cancer risk factor. Scientific evidences have suggested that obesity has associated with increased risk for a plenty of different types of cancer. The evidences are the most consistent for endometrial cancer, breast cancer between the postmenopausal women, and renal cell cancer. More contradictory results have reported about the colorectal, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Although numerous studies have done according to the obesity and cancer relation or joint, but The molecular mechanisms in which obesity could increase the risks of cancer, have been poorly understood

Efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein and interleukin-2 in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids can alter the inflammatory response in diabetic patients. This study aimed to determine the effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 84 subjects aged 45-85 years with at least a two-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Participants were randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. Each subject in the treatment group received three omega-3 capsules per day (eicosapentaenoic acid 1,548 mg; docosahexaenoic acid 828 mg; other omega-3 fatty acids 338 mg), while each subject in the control group received three placebo capsules (sunflower oil 2,100 mg) for a period of eight weeks. At the beginning of the study and post intervention, fasting blood samples were taken and serum concentrations of IL-2, TNF-α and CRP were assessed and compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum IL-2 and TNF-α levels were significantly reduced in the treatment group compared to the controls (p < 0.01). There was no significant change in serum CRP levels.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Short-term omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (3 g/day for eight weeks) can decrease the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-2 in diabetic patients, with no change in CRP levels. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acid supplements is highly recommended to alleviate inflammation caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus.</p>