Olive oil may prevent brain cancer

The health benefits of olive oil are increasingly being discovered, with a recent study showing that olive oil may help prevent brain cancer.

An olive oil compound may help prevent brain tumor formation.

British researchers have discovered that oleic acid - a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil - blocks cancer-causing protein activity in brain cells.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh (UK) said it was not yet possible to conclude whether eating olive oil protects against brain cancer. But they believe the study could open the door to new strategies to prevent the disease.

Dr. Michlewski and colleagues reported their findings in the journalJournal of Molecular Biology.

According to the American Brain Tumor Society, there will be about 80,000 cases of primary brain tumors diagnosed in the United States this year. Of these, about 26,000 will be malignant.

Among children 14 years of age and younger, brain tumors are the most common form of cancer, and they are the leading cause of cancer death.

Oleic acid prevents brain tumor formation by promoting miR-7 production

Previous studies have shown that oleic acid can inhibit the pathogenic activity of specific proteins.

On this basis, Dr. Michlewski's research team studied the effects of this compound in olive oil on the activity of the protein miR-7, a microRNA involved in inhibiting brain tumor formation.

Researchers examined the effects of oleic acid on living cells and human cell extracts.

The results showed that oleic acid inhibits the activity of a cellular protein called Musashi homolog2, which prevents the protein from shutting down the production of miR-7. As a result, it prevents tumor formation.

"While it is not yet possible to say that dietary olive oil prevents brain cancer, our findings suggest that oleic acid may support the production of tumor-suppressing molecules in cell cultures in the laboratory. Further studies may help determine the role of olive oil in brain health," said Dr. Gracjan Michlewski.

According to Dantri