Apples could reduce the risk of breast cancer
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abstract
Cornell food scientists found that whole apple extracts prevent mammary cancer in a rat model in a dose-dependent manner at the doses comparable to human consumption of 1, 3, and 6 apples a day. This study demonstrated that whole apple extracts effectively inhibited mammary cancer growth in the rat model, thus consumption of apples may be an effective strategy for cancer protection.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and approximately 35 percent of cancer deaths are related to diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. However, the individual antioxidants of these foods studied in clinical trails, including beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E, do not appear to have consistent preventive effects comparable to the observed health benefits of diets rich in fruits and vegetables. Cornell food scientists previously reported that fresh apples have potent antioxidant activity, and whole apple extracts inhibit the growth of colon- and liver- cancer cells in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that natural phytochemicals in fresh fruits could be more effective than a dietary supplement.
response
In research on apples, Cornell food scientists found that 100 g of fresh apples has an antioxidant activity equivalent to 1,700 mg of vitamin C. The Cornell researchers treated a group of rats with a known mammary carcinogen, 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), and then fed them either whole apple extracts or control extracts. Rats treated with the carcinogen developed mammary tumors with 71 percent tumor incidence during a 24-week study. No tumors were detected in the negative control group untreated with DMBA. A dose-dependent inhibition of mammary carcinogenesis by whole apple extracts was observed. Application of low, middle, and high doses of whole apple extracts, comparable to human consumption of 1, 3, and 6 apples per day, reduced the tumor incidence by 17, 39, and 44 percent, respectively. Cumulative tumor numbers in the groups receiving low, middle, or high doses of apple extracts were reduced by 25, 25, and 61 percent, respectively, after 24 weeks. The time to mammary tumor appearance after DMBA treatment was 11 weeks for rats fed no apple extracts, 12 weeks for rats fed low and middle level extract dosages, and 13 weeks for rats fed the high level dosage. The delay of tumor onset was dose-dependent. In the groups receiving low, middle, or high doses of apple extracts, tumor burden was reduced in a dose-dependent manner when compared to the control group fed no apple extracts. This study demonstrated that whole apple extracts effectively inhibited mammary cancer growth in the rat model, thus consumption of apples may be an effective means of cancer protection.
impact assessment
This is the first study of the effects of fresh apples on cancer prevention in animals. We have proposed that the additive and synergistic effects of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables are responsible for their potent antioxidant and anticancer activities, and that the benefit of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is attributed to the complex mixture of phytochemicals present in whole foods. Our findings suggest that consumers may gain more significant health benefits from including whole foods in their balanced diet. Furthermore, health benefits of the consumption of fruits and vegetables extend beyond lowering the risk of developing cancers and cardiovascular diseases to include preventive effects on other chronic diseases such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, central neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes. From a scientific and human health standpoint, this research may have a significant impact on consumers` food selection and also help promote the "5-A-Day" program increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. A healthy population would also reduce the cost of health care in the nation. In addition, this research will also have a critical economic impact on New York State and U.S. fruit and vegetable growers and their respective value chains. According to the USDA, Americans spends about $76 billion on fruits and vegetables every year. The concept that fruits and vegetable have potent antioxidant and anticancer properties will help Nnew YOrk State and U.S. growers and related industries by increasing consumption of fruits and vegetable and their products.
funding source description
Federal Formula Funds - Research (e.g., Hatch, McIntire-Stennis, Animal Health)
The U.S. Apple Association and the Apple Products Research and Education Council
