Anticancer Compounds Identified in Olive Oil

Researchers have identified anti-cancer compounds in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) that may lead to a reduced risk of certain breast cancers.

Earlier studies have tested the effects of a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil on various types of cancer, but the results have been conflicting. The authors of this latest study, published in the International Journal of Oncology, hypothesized that olive oil may only affect certain types of breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer patients can have tumors that are either HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor)-positive or negative. HER2-positive tumors generally grow and spread faster and require different treatment than HER2-negative tumors. An estimated 20-30 percent of breast cancer patients have HR2-positive tumors.

The researchers isolated several different compounds in EVOO and tested their effects on breast cancer cells. Extra virgin olive oil contains more active compounds than regular olive oil because it is made without heat or chemical treatments.

The researchers found that two compounds, secoiridoids and lignans, killed HER2-positive cells but did not significantly affect HER2-negative cells. In addition, breast cancer tumors in rats became less cancerous (malignant) in those that ate EVOO compared to control rats.

Although promising, the results of this study are preliminary, and it is unclear if EVOO could help treat or prevent breast cancer in humans. Additional research is warranted in this area.

For more information about the Mediterranean diet, please visit Natural Standard’s Health & Wellness database.

Comments

[Janett P]

Olive oil continues to be God’s gift to eating. It can decrease bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol, act as an antioxidant, and it may help fight colon cancer as well as breast cancer.

It’s too bad that extra virgin means extra expensive. Why is it always more expensive to eat healthy? But if you consider the ultimate health costs and lower quality of life caused by obesity, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and the like, I guess you can look at as an investment. I cook with the regular virgin olive oil. I like the taste better. I knew olive oil was good but I didn’t know there was a health difference between the extra and regular virgin. I might switch… if its that much better.