Blueberries for Colon Cancer Prevention

Pterostilbene, a compound found in blueberries, may prevent the development of tumors in the colon, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Rutgers University in New Jersey explored the role of types of dietary fat, pterostillbene and other food components in colon cancer prevention.

The study found that rats supplemented with pterostilbene had 57 percent fewer pre-cancerous lesions in the colon than rats not supplemented with the blueberry compound.

In the small pilot study, 18 rats were given a compound (azoxymethane) to induce colon cancer in a manner similar to human colon cancer development. Half of the animals were then placed on a balanced daily diet, while the other nine were given the same diet supplemented with pterostilbene (40 parts per million).

At the end of an eight-week study period, researchers reported that the pterostilbene-supplemented rats showed fewer pre-cancerous lesions in their colon in comparison to the control group. They also report that the blueberry compound reduced colonic cell growth and inhibited certain genes involved in inflammation, both of which are considered colon cancer risk factors.

In a related study, blueberry's cholesterol-lowering activity was investigated. Researchers reported that hamsters that were fed a high-cholesterol diet containing blueberry skins (7.6 percent of the diet) had lower levels of plasma and liver triglycerides (TGs), LDL-cholesterol, free and total cholesterol of 39, 18, 19, 30 and 37 percent, respectively, compared to animals fed the control diet.

Integrative therapies with strong or good scientific evidence in the prevention or treatment of colon cancer include vitamin A, probiotics, psychotherapy and selenium. For more information on integrative therapies for colon cancer, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions database. 

Comments

[Nick]

This study pertains to colon cancer but can it be applied to stomach cancer or liver cancer? Have there been any other studies on blueberries in relation to cancer?

[Jerry Porter]

Pterostilbene is found in the pigment that gives blueberries their color. The darker the berry, the higher the concentration of antioxidants.

[Anonymous]

I also heard blueberries were good for mental cognition, especially in those with Alzheimer's disease.

[Rachelle Provost]

Does it matter what types of blueberries or where they are from? Wild blueberries vs. cultivated; Maine vs. blueberries harvested in the South, (etc).

Do blueberry jams have the same effects?

[Cultural relativism]

Does anybody actually consume blueberries often enough for them to be beneficial?

[D. Meyer]

Before running to the local produce stand and stocking up on blueberries, it is important to bear in mind that:

A) This study was done in rodents, not humans

B) The colon cancer was artificially induced and, though similar to "naturally occurring" cancer, there could be subtle differences that influence its response to pterostilbene.

Often, promising results in the laboratory under manufactured circumstances do not translate into "real-life" human circumstances. What bugs me about findings such as this is that the media makes a big splash about it, the blueberry market (along with prices) soars, blueberries show up in everything from shakes to salads, all at premium costs. Are they good for you? Probably, for lots of reasons. So, go ahead, indulge if you like them. But, will wasting tons of money on overpriced blueberry-laced foods, supplements and beverages prevent cancer if you are genetically predisposed or otherwise have unhealthy eating habits? Probably not. Best to save your money, eat an overall healthy diet and give up bad habits, such as smoking, and being too sedentary, which are known to undermine health and increase the risk of cancer.

[Rachelle Provost]

My grandfather eats lots of blueberries because he believes in their overall health benefits, especially in the prevention of cancer. He always orders blueberries in his ice cream...just how many blueberries do you have to consume to get the benefit? Is there a concentrated form of the active ingredient available?

[Cady B]

Recently, a study came out regarding the benefits of apples in reducing fatigue. I think that all these studies just go to show that eating a healthy diet really does have a beneficial outcome. It's actually unfortunate that no one pays heed to the common knowledge of these things until a research study comes out to claim the health benefits.

[Bob]

Blueberries are a great fruit to eat. Studies show pomegranates to be effective in cancer prevention as well. It is due to their antioxidant properties. Blueberries are a little pricey, but look at the cost of pomegranate juice, and then you will be buying blueberries.

[Kalyn]

I agree. There are many studies investigating the impact of fruits on various diseases. It all leads to one conclusion: maintain a healthy diet. This is often overlooked, as the incidences of obesity in America have sky-rocketed.

[Emily P.]

Sure, blueberries may be pricey, but consider the cost of cancer treatments. There are no side effects of a healthy diet, thus, there’s no risk in taking these natural preventative measures, which may improve the quality of your life in a variety of ways.

[MV]

I agree with D. Meyer. Since the study was done on rodents, I am not sure how true it would be for humans and cancer. Nevertheless, eating fruits and vegetables can only benefit the body, so that should encourage everyone to include them in their diets.

[Paul]

I love blueberries, so any excuse to eat more is always a good thing. It does make me wonder how many blueberries you need to eat for these effects, particularly when looking at the cholesterol bit. 7.6% of the diet was blueberry skins. I wonder how many blueberries that would be in a 2,000-calorie diet. Also, would you get any benefit from blueberry juice?

[Anonymous]

It is hard to determine the efficacy of blueberries for preventing colon cancer since the study mentioned was only conducted in a very small sample of rodents for a very short period of time. However, eating healthfully can only help you. So, in order to help prevent colon cancer, we need to see more extensive research being done.

[Deb]

Anonymous makes a good point that more extensive research needs to be done. Instead of studying short-term supplements in animals, it might be a good idea to start studying humans. Maybe instead of researching one type of fruit or vegetable or supplement, it would be interesting to compare people who eat a healthful diet versus people that don’t watch what they eat. I know that this would be close to impossible because people change their diet constantly and it would have to be a very long trial. But it was just a thought to put an end to all these articles saying “this fruit prevents cancer” and actually promote an overall healthful diet as a way to prevent cancer.