Fatty Fish

Suggested

2 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 21, 2026

Suggested2 studies

Regular fatty fish consumption linked to significantly lower breast cancer risk

Two observational studies totaling over 10,000 women associate fatty fish intake with meaningful breast cancer risk reduction. A Spanish case-control study (1,017 cases, 1,017 controls) found women following a Mediterranean diet rich in oily fish had 44% lower breast cancer odds (OR=0.56; 95% CI 0.40–0.79), with even stronger protection against triple-negative breast cancer (OR=0.32; 95% CI 0.15–0.66). A prospective Icelandic cohort (9,340 women, 27.3-year follow-up, 744 cases) demonstrated that high midlife fish consumption (>4 portions/week) cut breast cancer risk by 54% compared to low intake (HR=0.46; 95% CI 0.22–0.97). Coastal residence during puberty independently lowered risk by 22% (HR=0.78; 95% CI 0.61–0.99). Consuming fatty fish at least 4 times weekly appears most protective, with benefits potentially strongest when sustained from adolescence through midlife.

Evidence

Early Life Residence, Fish Consumption, and Risk of Breast Cancer.

Authors: Adami, Hans-Olov, Aspelund, Thor, Giovannucci, Edward L, Gudnason, Vilmundur, Haraldsdottir, Alfheidur, Harris, Tamara B, Launer, Lenore J, Mucci, Lorelei A, Steingrimsdottir, Laufey, Torfadottir, Johanna E, Tryggvadottir, Laufey, Valdimarsdottir, Unnur A

Published: January 1, 2017

A prospective cohort of 9,340 Icelandic women born 1908–1935 were followed for a mean of 27.3 years, during which 744 breast cancer cases were diagnosed. Women residing in coastal villages during puberty had a significantly reduced breast cancer risk compared to those in the capital area (HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.61–0.99). In a subgroup analysis of 2,882 women from the AGES-Reykjavik Study, high fish consumption (>4 portions/week) during adolescence was associated with a non-significant risk reduction (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.44–1.13), while high midlife fish consumption showed a statistically significant 54% risk reduction (HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.22–0.97), both compared to low consumers (≤2 portions/week).

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Spanish Mediterranean diet and other dietary patterns and breast cancer risk: case–control EpiGEICAM study

Authors: A Castelló, A de Juan-Ferré, A Goldhirsch, A Lluch, A M Casas, A Paul, A Ruiz, A Trichopoulou, AA Davis, AC Wolff, AH Wu, B Buijsse, B Pérez-Gómez, B Yang, C Jara, C Pelucchi, CA Demetriou, E Carrasco, E De Stefani, E Díaz, FB Hu, G Buckland, G Grosso, H Barkoukis, H Boeing, HD Woo, I Romieu, IR White, J Ferlay, J M Baena-Cañada, J Vioque, J Vioque, J Vioque, JS Zheng, KJ Lee, L Baglietto, LJ Martin, LM Butler, Lukas Schwingshackl, M A Jimeno, M de Lorgeril, M Martín, M Muñoz, M Pollán, M Ramos, MA Murtaugh, ME Hammond, N Garcia-Arenzana, N Garcia-Arenzana, P Rosado, P Royston, PF Jacques, RL Prentice, S Antolín, SF Brennan, T Agurs-Collins, TT Fung, V Cottet, V Edefonti, V Guillem, V Lope, WC Willett, X Cui

Published: January 1, 2014

In a matched case-control study (1017 cases, 1017 controls) of Spanish women, the Mediterranean dietary pattern featuring oily fish, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and vegetable oils showed a significant inverse association with breast cancer risk. Women in the highest quartile of adherence had 44% lower odds of breast cancer compared to the lowest quartile (OR=0.56; 95% CI 0.40–0.79). Protection was particularly pronounced for triple-negative breast cancer (OR=0.32; 95% CI 0.15–0.66; P-heterogeneity=0.04).

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