Fish Oil Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Risk
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Rating
Fish Oil Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Risk
Our Review Summary
The story missed an opportunity to explain the inherent limitations in drawing conclusions from such an observational study. And its use of relative risk reduction figures is bothersome. Why not just give the absolute numbers from each group in the study? That would be far more meaningful and helpful.
Why This Matters
There could be boilerplate language that stories could use to start to educate readers about what observational studies CAN’T PROVE. In fact, we suggest some in a primer elsewhere on this site.
Criteria
Not Applicable
Not applicable. Not discussed, but it should be general knowledge that they’re relatively inexpensive.
Not Satisfactory
Only relative risk reduction figures were used – "32% reduced risk." But readers should be told "32% of what?" What were the actual absolute numbers in the group that took the supplements versus the numbers in the group that didn’t take the supplements. Why is that so difficult to include? It would be far more meaningful than 32%.
Not Applicable
Not applicable. No harms were discussed but this is not a serious issue in this case.
Not Satisfactory
One good thing was the quote: "There is some limited evidence from my study and others that fish oil may be good for preventing breast cancer, but there is not sufficient evidence to make a public health recommendation right now," cautions study researcher Emily White, PhD, an epidemiologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
However, the story missed an opportunity to ever explain WHY a study like this is insufficient evidence. It never explained the inherent limitations in drawing conclusions from an observational study – something this story’s HealthDay competition did a better job on.
Satisfactory
No overt disease mongering.
Satisfactory
Four different sources were quoted – a strength of the story.
Satisfactory
At the very least, the story included the fact that "Other supplements were not linked to breast cancer risk in the new study, including black cohosh, dong quai, soy, and St. John’s wort, which are often taken to relieve some of the symptoms of menopause."
Not Applicable
The availability of fish oil supplements is not in question.
Satisfactory
We were given some context by the following quotes:
- Other studies have not found a link between eating more fatty fish and breast cancer risk, but it may be that the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil supplements is much higher than what is typically found in the diet.
and
- "This study is one of the largest studies that have come out showing that there may be role for fish oil in the prevention of cancer, specifically breast cancer," says Lorenzo Cohen, MD, director of the Integrative Medicine Program and chief of the section of integrative medicine in the department of general oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Satisfactory
It’s clear that the story did not rely solely on a news release.
Total Score: 5 of 7 Satisfactory
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