Olive oil use may prevent cancer

The Facts:
* 180 healthy European males consumed 25millilitres of olive oil every day for 3 weeks in a study to investigate the health properties of olive oil.
* Breakdown products in the body which are associated with cancer were found to be higher in men from Northern Europe than Central or Southern Europe at the start of the study.
* Olive oil was found to lower the amount of these breakdown products in the body by more than 10%, suggesting that olive oil may offer some protection against cancer.

Shaun’s comment: There tend to be fewer cases of cancer in the South of Europe where the population tends to consume more olive oil as part of their usual diet. There is an association, but this does not necessarily mean that the olive oil is responsible. This study attempts to answer the question as to whether the olive oil is responsible and the answer is that it may well be, given that this excellent study demonstrated a mechanism whereby the olive oil may provide benefits.

Study reference:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fj.06-6328com