Marine lipids, another good reason to eat fish!

A few news items add a positive note to the ocean of information we're reading about the marine environment!

Mackerel, sardines and other oily fish are known for their high levels of Omega-3, a fatty acid essential for a healthy diet. But other lipids from the marine environment could act to prevent certain cancers or inspire the development of therapeutic molecules.

Whether incorporated into our diet or used in the development of anti-cancer agents, these marine lipids are thought to help prevent or inhibit the development of tumours.

The richness of the marine environment is promising, and other molecules have already demonstrated their anti-cancer potential, such as cytarabine , inspired by molecules from a Caribbean sponge (Cryptotethya crypta), which is used to treat certain forms of leukaemia, or, in the case of marine lipids, miltefosine, a lipid used in the treatment of skin metastases of breast cancer. 

Source : The Conversation

Photo : Dugornay Olivier-Ifremer