Olive oil, an essential component of the Mediterranean diet, and breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: The Mediterranean diet has been related to a lower risk of some chronic diseases, including cancer. We aim to gain insight into the effects of the main source of fat of this diet on breast cancer, the most common type of malignancy in women. Design: Data from sixteen experimental series analysing the effects of dietary lipids on mammary carcinogenesis in an animal model, in the context of the international literature on the Mediterranean diet, olive oil and breast cancer risk. Setting: Experimental and human data on the effects of olive oil and Mediterranean diet on breast cancer. Subjects: An animal model of induced breast cancer and other human and experimental studies in the literature.Results: Diets rich in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) exert a negative modulatory effect on experimental breast cancer to a weak promoting effect, much lower than that obtained with a high-corn oil diet. EVOO confers to the mammary adenocarcinomas a clinical behaviour and morphological features compatible with low tumour aggressiveness. This differential effect, in relation to other dietary lipids, may be related to a lower effect on body weight and sexual maturation. In addition, EVOO induced different molecular changes in tumours, such as in the composition of cell membranes, activity of signalling proteins and gene expression. All these modifications could induce lower proliferation, higher apoptosis and lower DNA damage. These results, together with the favourable effect of olive oil reported in the literature when it is consumed in moderate quantities, suggest a beneficial influence of EVOO on breast cancer risk. Conclusions: Consumption of EVOO in moderate quantities and throughout the lifetime appears to be a healthy choice and may favourably influence breast cancer risk.

Mechanics behind Breast Cancer Prevention - Focus on Obesity, Exercise and Dietary Fat

“…Several studies have demonstrated the importance of maintaining beneficial lifestyle choices throughout an individual's lifetime to reduce breast cancer risk (Bernstein et al, 1994;Hilakivi-Clarke et al, 2010;Cabanes et al, 2011;Escrich et al, 2011;Lynch et al, 2011;Kark et al, 2012). One possible explanation for this is that the initial accumulation of driver mutations which have the potential to ultimately lead to malignancy, occur in young adults.…”

“…For example, Escrich et al (2011) determined that breast cancer-induced mice that were fed a diet rich in OO showed a slight protective effect over mice that were fed a high-corn diet. Additionally, the tumors in mice fed with an OO-rich diet were less aggressive, compared to controls (Escrich et al, 2011). Furthermore, OO led to modifications in the tumors which corresponded with lower proliferation, higher apoptosis and lower DNA damage, compared to control tumors.…”

The Mediterranean Diet and Breast Cancer Risk

“…Similarly, in another report including both human and animal studies, diets rich in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) were found to exert a negative modulatory effect on experimental breast cancer. In addition, EVOO was shown to induce different molecular changes in tumors, such as in the composition of cell membranes, activity of signaling proteins, and gene expression [38].…”

“…In fact, in the Mediterranean diet, olive oil is the principal source of dietary fat, so that there is a high polyunsaturated fatty acid to saturated fatty acid intake ratio. This favorable fatty acid ratio helps maintain a healthy body weight, which is protective with regards to breast carcinogenesis [38]. In addition, EVOO alters the morphology and molecular characteristics of tumors, such as cell membrane composition, signaling protein activity, and gene expression [38], in a way that suggests that it may also have protective effects.…”

Maize Fertigation with Treated Olive Mill Wastewater: Effects on Crop Production and Soil Properties

“…Olive oil consumption is associated with many health benefits, including protective effects against cardiovascular diseases (Covas, 2007), cognitive decline (Berr et al, 2009) and possibly breast cancer (Escrich, Moral, & Solanas, 2011). The olive oil extraction process, however, involves the generation of large amounts of olive mill wastewater (OMWW), a by-product that constitutes serious environmental problem in the Mediterranean region, due to its high polluting load.…”