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Avocados Prevent Oral Cancer
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Nutrients from avocados have been found to thwart oral cancer cells, killing some
and preventing pre-cancerous cells from developing into actual cancers.
The findings are published online in the journal Seminars in Cancer Biology.
Researchers from Ohio State University found that extracts from Hass avocados
kill or stop the growth of pre-cancerous cells that lead to oral cancer.
Hass avocados are the most readily available at supermarkets. They are known
for their distinctive bumpy skin that turns from green to purplish-black as they
ripen.
It's not yet known if the findings hold true for the more than 500 other varieities of
avocados grown worldwide.
Lead author Steven M. D'Ambrosio, a member of the molecular carcinogenesis
and chemoprevention program at Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center,
also wrote an accompanying editorial for the journal, discussing the cancer-
fighting potential of fruits and vegetables. D'Ambrosio collaborated with Haiming
Ding in Ohio State's College of Medicine.
Studies have long associated the consumption of fruits and vegetables with a
reduced risk for various types of human cancer.
The protective effect is attributed to the high levels of phytonutrients or
phytochemicals – plant compounds thought to have health-protecting qualities –
that are often found in dark colored fruits and vegetables.
“As far as we know, this is the first study of avocados and oral cancer,” says
D'Ambrosio. “We think these phytochemicals either stop the growth of
precancerous cells in the body or they kill the precancerous cells without affecting
normal cells. Our study focuses on oral cancer, but the findings might have
implications for other types of cancer. These are preliminary findings, and more
research is needed.”
D'Ambrosio, who collaborated with researchers in Ohio State's College of
Pharmacy, found that phytochemicals extracted from avocados target multiple
signaling pathways and increase the amount of reactive oxygen within the cells,
leading to cell death in pre-cancerous cell lines. But the phytochemicals did not
harm normal cells.
“These studies suggest that individual and a combination of phytochemicals
from the avocado fruit may offer an advantageous dietary strategy in cancer
prevention,” says Ding, who is a member of the division of radiobiology,
department of radiology.
Avocados are chock-full of beneficial antioxidants and phytonutrients, including
vitamin C, folate, vitamin E, fiber and unsaturated fats. They are naturally sodium-
free, contain no trans fats and are low in saturated fat, making them a healthy
addition to any diet.
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