Illustration of a man's silhouette with a fish inside, symbolizing the benefits of fish oil for men's health.

Can Fish Oil Fight the Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment?

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 3 min read.

"New research explores how omega-3s could help men manage metabolic changes from testosterone-lowering therapies."

Prostate cancer is a major health concern, and treatments that lower testosterone, while effective against the cancer, can trigger a range of metabolic problems. These include insulin resistance, increased cholesterol, weight gain, and cardiovascular issues – basically, a cluster of symptoms known as metabolic syndrome.

This metabolic syndrome not only diminishes overall well-being but can also increase the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. It’s a significant challenge for men undergoing prostate cancer treatment, highlighting the need for strategies to mitigate these side effects.

Now, new research is exploring whether omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, can help counteract these metabolic changes. The study investigates the potential of EPA/DHA ethyl esters (Omacor) to alleviate metabolic syndrome in rats experiencing testosterone deficiency, offering hope for improving the quality of life for men undergoing similar treatments.

The Link Between Testosterone Deficiency and Metabolic Syndrome

Illustration of a man's silhouette with a fish inside, symbolizing the benefits of fish oil for men's health.

Treatments like orchidectomy (surgical removal of the testicles) and GnRH agonists (like leuprolide) are common ways to lower testosterone in prostate cancer patients. Unfortunately, this testosterone suppression comes with a price. Studies have shown that these treatments can lead to:

Increased body fat
Loss of muscle mass
Higher blood sugar levels
Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides

These changes contribute to metabolic syndrome, increasing the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Researchers are actively looking for ways to manage these side effects, and diet interventions, particularly with omega-3 fatty acids, are showing promise. Omega-3s are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and their ability to improve various aspects of metabolic health.

Can Fish Oil Make a Difference?

In the study, rats with induced testosterone deficiency were fed a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet to mimic the metabolic challenges seen in humans. The researchers then tested whether supplementing their diet with Omacor (a mixture of EPA and DHA ethyl esters) could reverse these negative effects.

The results were encouraging. Omacor supplementation showed several benefits:

<ul> <li>Decreased systolic blood pressure</li> <li>Reduced stiffness in the heart</li> <li>Less inflammation and collagen buildup in the heart</li> <li>Reduced fat accumulation in the liver without worsening liver damage</li> </ul><br>These findings suggest that Omacor has the potential to ease metabolic complications in prostate cancer patients undergoing testosterone-lowering therapy.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3390/md16060182, Alternate LINK

Title: Attenuation Of Metabolic Syndrome By Epa/Dha Ethyl Esters In Testosterone-Deficient Obese Rats

Subject: Drug Discovery

Journal: Marine Drugs

Publisher: MDPI AG

Authors: Nikhil Bhandarkar, Senthil Kumar, Jarad Martin, Lindsay Brown, Sunil Panchal

Published: 2018-05-24

Everything You Need To Know

Why do prostate cancer treatments sometimes lead to other health problems?

Prostate cancer treatments, such as orchidectomy or GnRH agonists like leuprolide, aim to lower testosterone levels, which can effectively combat the cancer. However, this testosterone suppression often leads to metabolic syndrome. This syndrome is a cluster of conditions including increased body fat, loss of muscle mass, higher blood sugar levels, and elevated cholesterol. These changes significantly increase the risk of developing serious health issues like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, thereby diminishing overall well-being.

What is metabolic syndrome, and why is it a concern in this context?

Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that can arise as a side effect of prostate cancer treatments that lower testosterone. These treatments can trigger a cascade of metabolic changes, including insulin resistance, increased cholesterol, weight gain, and other cardiovascular issues. The presence of metabolic syndrome increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The research is focusing on strategies to mitigate these side effects to improve the quality of life for men undergoing prostate cancer treatment.

How could fish oil potentially help men undergoing prostate cancer treatment?

Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA found in fish oil, are being investigated for their potential to counteract the metabolic side effects of prostate cancer treatments. These fatty acids are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and their ability to improve various aspects of metabolic health. Studies are exploring if Omacor, a mixture of EPA and DHA ethyl esters, can alleviate metabolic syndrome in those experiencing testosterone deficiency.

What is Omacor, and how is it being used in the research?

Omacor is a mixture of EPA and DHA ethyl esters. It is being studied to see if it can reverse the negative effects of testosterone deficiency that can occur from prostate cancer treatments. Research involves feeding rats with induced testosterone deficiency a diet supplemented with Omacor to observe if it can counteract metabolic challenges such as insulin resistance and increased cholesterol. This could potentially lead to improved health outcomes for men undergoing prostate cancer treatment.

What are the common side effects of the testosterone-lowering treatments?

Testosterone-lowering therapies are used to treat prostate cancer, but these treatments can cause a number of negative side effects. These include an increase in body fat, loss of muscle mass, higher blood sugar levels, and elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. The aim of researchers is to find interventions such as those involving omega-3 fatty acids, to help manage these side effects, thereby improving the overall health and well-being of men undergoing prostate cancer treatment. Diet interventions, especially omega-3 fatty acids, are showing promise.