The objectives were to 1) conduct a meta-analysis to assess the association between alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and prostate cancer; 2) analyze a trial of ALA on coronary heart disease with PSA as a post hoc outcome; 3) assess the effect of trial serum and also ALA directly on LNCaP cell growth. 1) The ALA meta-analysis of prospective and case-control studies showed no overall effect on prostate cancer. However, removal of one study from the analysis of prospective studies changed the result to a significant protective effect (RR=0.91; 95%CI:0.83,0.99). 2) No significant treatment difference was seen in the change in PSA in the randomized controlled trial. 3) The ALA treatment serum from the clinical trial did not affect LNCaP cell growth. However, ALA decreased LNCaP cell growth in a dose dependent manner when added to cell culture. The results provide no positive evidence for an effect of ALA on prostate cancer.

The objectives were to 1) conduct a meta-analysis to assess the association between alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and prostate cancer; 2) analyze a trial of ALA on coronary heart disease with PSA as a post hoc outcome; 3) assess the effect of trial serum and also ALA directly on LNCaP cell growth. 1) The ALA meta-analysis of prospective and case-control studies showed no overall effect on prostate cancer. However, removal of one study from the analysis of prospective studies changed the result to a significant protective effect (RR=0.91; 95%CI:0.83,0.99). 2) No significant treatment difference was seen in the change in PSA in the randomized controlled trial. 3) The ALA treatment serum from the clinical trial did not affect LNCaP cell growth. However, ALA decreased LNCaP cell growth in a dose dependent manner when added to cell culture. The results provide no positive evidence for an effect of ALA on prostate cancer.