Olive oil a cure for colon cancer

Olive oil reduces colon cancer risk

London: A new study by researchers at the University of Ulster has found that olive oil may be helpful in reducing the risk of colon cancer - one of the deadliest forms of the disease. The researchers found that a mixture of compounds, called phenols, extracted from virgin olive oil could offer protection against colon cancer, and supported the long-held belief in the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil. "We found that incubation of one cancer cell line with increasing concentrations of olive oil phenols for 24 hours protected the cells from DNA damage. The effect of olive oil phenols on another cell line after 48 hours of exposure suggested that they 'may exert an anti-promoter effect in the carcinogenesis pathway'," the Daily Mail quoted Dr Chris Gill as saying. "While the findings are purely of an experimental nature, they identify mechanisms that support the scientific and medical evidence suggesting an association between olive oil consumption and decreased risk of cancer. The research shows that the effect is not only related to the types of fat present in the oil but also the phenolic compounds present," Gill added.
-Oct 27, 2005