Anti-Cancer Properties of Olive Oil Secoiridoid Phenols: A Systematic Review of In Vivo Studies
January 2016
in “
Food & Function
”
TLDR Olive oil compounds may help prevent cancer in animals, but human results are mixed.
The 2016 systematic review analyzed the anti-cancer effects of olive oil secoiridoid phenols, examining 16 animal studies and 5 human intervention trials. The animal studies largely supported the compounds' ability to inhibit cancer at initiation and progression phases, with oleuropein showing complete tumor regression in mice and protective effects against DNA damage and carcinogenesis. Hydroxytyrosol and oleocanthal also demonstrated significant reductions in tumor growth and metastasis in various animal models. Human trials yielded mixed results, with three studies indicating a significant reduction in oxidative DNA damage, while two showed no effect. The review highlighted the need for further research, particularly in high-risk populations, to confirm the chemopreventive potential of these phenols.
