A study conducted by researchers at the Northern California Cancer Center, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the Statens Serum Institute in Denmark demonstrates that a diet including omega-3 fatty acids (found in fish), antioxidants (found in fruits and vegetables), and fiber may reduce the risk of overall non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) comprises about 30 different forms of lymphoma that, taken together, are the fifth most common cancer in the United States, with over 50,000 new cases diagnosed every year. NHL starts in the lymphatic tissue, which includes the lymph nodes and other organs that are part of the body’s immune system.

“Overall, eating fish and marine fats is associated with lower risk of NHL, as is consuming some antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene, commonly found in many fruits and vegetables,” says Ellen Chang, ScD, the Northern California Cancer Center scientist who led the study.

Results from the study were published in the December 15, 2006 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Posted on January 12, 2007 03:33 PM