Olive Oil Suppresses Breast Cancer Gene
The traditional Mediterranean diet has long been associated with a reduced incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, and uterus.
A new study out of Spain indicates that chemicals in extra virgin olive oil can kill breast cancer cells, which may help explain the lower incidence of breast cancer seen in adherents of the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil is the predominant form of fat in the traditional Mediterranean diet. Robert Preidt writes about the new research findings at MedlinePlus (HealthDay) today: Phenols in Quality Olive Oil Suppress Breast Cancer Gene.
Phytochemical polyphenols (i.e., lignans and secoiridoids) inhibited the breast cancer gene HER2, leading to death of cultured breast cancer cells. This is test tube stuff not involving actual cancer cells in actual humans.
The researchers hope their findings lead to new breast cancer drugs based on these natural chemicals. Don’t we all.
According to a December 16, 2008 article by Reuters-India, Spain is the largest producer of olive oil, although much of it is bottled and re-exported from Italy.
The healthy version of the Mediterranean diet is heavily influenced by the cuisines of Greece and southern Italy. It’s great to see increasing numbers of supportive scientific studies originating in Spain.
Additional information: Related article at WebMD.com.
December 20th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Wow that is very interesting!!! Did they mention what it was in the olive oil that did this or what they suspect it might be?
December 20th, 2008 at 6:42 am
They believe it is the lignans and secoiridoids.
These phytochemicals are in higher concentration in extra virgin olive oil because it is processed without heat - heat tends to degrade the chemicals. That’s why some people say olive oil is better for you if you don’t cook with it, using heat. Better to use as salad dressing or dip bread in it, they say.
-Steve