Olive oil link to new cancer hope

Olive oil could be a key weapon in the fight against colon cancer, new research by the University of Ulster has revealed. 

Researchers at the university has found new evidence of the link between virgin olive oil and healthy living. 

They have discovered that special phenols taken from the oil could safeguard against colon cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer in the Western world and the second highest cause of cancer death in the US. 

The beneficial nature of the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, is well known, but the latest research takes it a step further by identifying ways by which olive oil could provide protection and reduce the cancer risk. 

Dr Chris IR Gill, one of the researchers, explained: "Because the colon is one of the major cancer sites thought to be protected by olive oil, the UU research team studied the potential anti-cancer effects of virgin olive chemical compounds in cultured cell lines widely used as models for colorectal cancer. 

"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'. 

"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. The next stage is to assess the effects in a suitable animal model." 

The findings will be published in this month's International Journal of Cancer.