Combination of three treatments may reduce cancer risk among senior adults: Study

According to a new study, a combination of high doses of Vitamin D, omega 3 fatty acids, and a simple home strength training program (SHEP) has been shown to reduce a cumulative reduction by 61 per cent in cancer risk for healthy adults age 70 and older.

This was the first study to test the combined benefit of three affordable public health interventions for the prevention of invasive cancers. Mechanistic studies have shown that vitamin D inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Similarly, omega-3 may inhibit the transformation of normal cells into cancer cells, and exercise has been shown to improve immune function and decrease inflammation, which may help in the prevention of cancer.

The results show that all three treatments (vitamin D3, omega-3s, and SHEP) had cumulative benefits on the risk of invasive cancers. Each of the treatments had a small individual benefit but when all three treatments were combined, the benefits became statistically significant, and the researchers saw an overall reduction in cancer risk by 61 per cent.