Mediterranean diet with olive oil may cut breast cancer risk by 68%

To prevent breast cancer, scientists advise you to "do as the Greeks do."

Mediterranean diet which has been hailed as the secret to longevity and protection against heart disease and Alzheimer’s has once again been found to help with breast cancer.

Mediterranean diet consists of plant foods, fish, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), olives, legumes, nuts, fruits etc. The diet also includes a moderate intake of red wine and is low in dairy products and meat.
Mediterranean diet with four tablespoons each day of extra-virgin olive oil may cut the risk of developing breast cancer by 68%, a recent study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine has concluded.

Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women all over the world. It is more than 100 times more common in women than men. 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. 1 in 8 women in UK will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. It is the most common type of cancer in women in the United Kingdom accounting for 31% of all cancer cases.


The study in Spain spanned 2003 to 2009. It involved 4,282 post-menopausal women (aged 60 to 80) with no signs of breast cancer. Participants were divided into three groups and given three different diets. The first group received Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). Second group received the same diet but rich in nuts. The third group of participants received control diet where the participants were asked to decrease their fat intake.

At the end of the study, 35 of the participants developed breast cancer. A slight decrease in the risk of breast cancer was observed in the women in the group that ate Mediterranean supplemented with nuts. But, the women in the Mediterranean diet with EVOO were found least likely to develop breast cancer. These women showed a 68% lower risk of malignant breast cancer.

“The results suggest a beneficial effect of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil in the primary prevention of breast cancer,” said lead researcher Dr Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez, of the University of Navarra, Spain.

Dr. Mitchell Katz, a deputy editor of JAMA Internal Medicine commented, “Of course, no study is perfect.”

He believes that this study had its limitations because only 35 incident of breast cancer were reported where the women were not screened with mammography, the women were not blinded to the diet and they were all postmenopausal white women at high risk of heart disease.


“Still, consumption of a Mediterranean diet, which is based on plant foods, fish and extra virgin olive oil, is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and is safe. It may also prevent breast cancer.”

“We hope to see more emphasis on Mediterranean diet to reduce cancer and cardiovascular disease and improve health and well-being, he concluded.

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Olive oil may prevent brain cancer

A compound found in olive oil may prevent formation of brain tumors, according to a study by British scientists. Researchers at the Welcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology at the University of Edinburgh found that oleic acid – a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil – prevents tumor formation by halting cancer-causing protein activity in the brain cells.

The researchers reached their conclusion after testing the effects of oleic acid on living, human cells and cell extracts. Therefore, they say that they are unable to conclude whether consuming olive oil protects against brain cancer. 

However, the researchers believe their study could pave the way to new strategies to prevent the disease. 

Study co-author Dr. Gracjan Michlewski, of the Wellcome Trust Centre, and colleagues reported their findings in the Journal of Molecular Biology.

Olive oil has been touted as the “healthiest ingredient in the world.” It has been used to consecrate kings, bless babies, and anoint athletes. For centuries, people have used olive oil as food, medicine, perfume, and moisturizer.

The health benefits of olive oil are far-reaching; studies have associated the oil to decreased risk of heart disease and obesity, as well as cognitive enhancements.

About brain cancer

Brain cancer is detected by the presence of a malignant (cancerous) tumor in the brain.

American Brain Tumor Association estimates 80,000 new cases of primary brain tumor diagnosis in the U.S. this year. Of these cases, around 26,000 will be malignant.

Brain cancer is the most common form of cancer among children 14 and under, and it is the main cause of cancer-related death in this group.

The study

In previous research, oleic acid had been shown to impede the disease-causing activity of specific proteins.

Hoping to bank on this finding, researchers set out to determine how oleic acid affects the activity of proteins miR-7 – a microRNA responsible for the inhibition of brain tumor formation.

To reach their conclusion, the team tested oleic acid’s effects on living, human cells and cell extracts.

The researchers found that the compound impedes the action of a cell protein called Musashi homolog2, which halts the protein from stopping the production of miR-7. This mechanism prevents the formation of brain tumors. 

The scientists call for further studies in order to determine whether olive oil consumption can help prevent brain cancer. However, they say their current results are promising.

Dr. Michlewski concludes:

"While we cannot yet say that olive oil in the diet helps prevent brain cancer, our findings do suggest that oleic acid can support the production of tumor-suppressing molecules in cells grown in the lab. Further studies could help determine the role that olive oil might have in brain health."

Different types of olive oil
The key term for choosing good olive oil is “extra virgin.” Virgin olive oil (VOO) is made with less fresh olives, while extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is made from the freshest olives. EVOO, therefore, is less acidic and more stable when heated. “Light” olive oil or plain olive oil, on the other hand, are chemically refined versions that do not contain the health benefits of olive oil.

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