Olive oil and colon cancer

Extra virgin olive oil contains quite a few compounds. Many of these compounds have health benefits for humans.

 

Hydroxytyrosol is one of these compounds. It is one of the most studied compounds, but of course, scientists are never satisfied with existing knowledge and continue to research hydroxytyrosol.

 

One of these studies recently yielded an interesting new development. It appears that hydroxytyrosol may help prevent the spread of colon cancer[1]. Let's take a look at the relevant scientific study.

 

It seems that hydroxytyrosol has an effect on DNA methylation in certain cells. Methylation of DNA appears to play an important role in the development of certain diseases, such as cancer, by inhibiting the expression of certain genes.

 

Scientific research involving tests with methylation inhibitors has led to cancer remission in many cases[2]. In the latest study, it appears that hydroxytyrosol has an inhibitory effect on the endothelin receptor type A gene (EDNRA). Think of it as a kind of 'switch' that can be turned 'on' or 'off'.

 

When we further examine the results of this study, we find that only cell lines were used. This means that the effect of hydroxytyrosol on these cell lines was studied in vitro ('under glass') and the results of this study are not directly applicable to the human body ('in vivo').

 

Nevertheless, the results are promising, as nearly 9,000 people in the Netherlands are diagnosed with colon cancer each year, and more than 3,000 are diagnosed with rectal cancer.

 

It was already known that consuming sufficient extra virgin olive oil, which contains hydroxytyrosol, can improve overall health can improve. Now it seems that it may also have an effect on the development or further spread of colon cancer.

 

So, it is a good idea to include more extra virgin olive oil in your diet.

 

[1] Del Saz-Lara et al: Hydroxytyrosol decreases EDNRA expression through epigenetic modification in colorectal cancer cells in Pharmacological Research – 2023. 

[2] Kulis, Esteller: DNA Methylation and Cancer in Advances in Genetics – 2010.