More than 207,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Now, a common alternative medicine has been found to boost the uptake of a particular cancer medication.

Omega-3 fatty acids, the kind found in abundance in fish oil supplements, appear to help the body process the breast cancer medication tamoxifen, according to research done at the Fox Chase Cancer Center.

The team based this conclusion on data collected from women with breast cancer who were put on diets that contained high levels of fish or corn oils. All participants were taking tamoxifen during the study.

Those taking fish oil displayed more gene expression of processes related to immune response to tumors, suggesting that such a regimen may help the drug interfere with the estrogen activity of breast tumors.

An eating schedule that contains healthy amounts of fish can keep an individual’s levels of omega-3s relatively high. For those who have little or no access to seafood, herbal supplements and multivitamins may contribute plenty of the nutrient to one’s daily diet.