At Cornell University’s department of food science and Institute for Comparative and Environmental Toxicology, researchers randomly divided rats treated with a known mammary carcinogen into different groups, feeding them either low, middle or high doses of Red Delicious apple extracts (the equivalent of one, three and six apples a day in humans, respectively) or a control extract. Rats fed the strongest apple extract experienced the lowest cancer rate (40% developed cancer)… followed by the group fed middle-strength extract (43%)… and the lowest strength extract (59%). In comparison, 71% of those fed the apple-free control extract developed mammary cancer over the 24-week study period. The study appeared in the December 10, 2008, online edition of Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

WHAT’S THE SECRET?

According to researcher Rui Hai Liu, MD, PhD, associate professor of food science at Cornell University, the study demonstrated not only that apple extracts effectively inhibited the growth of mammary tumors in the rats but that the more administered, the greater the anticancer effect. “Not only did animals treated with apple extract have fewer tumors overall, the tumors were smaller, less likely to be malignant and grew more slowly when compared with tumors in the untreated animals,” he said.

Why are apples so powerful against breast cancer, I wondered? Dr. Liu explained to me that apples are one of the best sources of phenolics and flavonoids, which are phytochemicals (bioactive compounds) that have powerful antioxidant and anti-proliferative (antigrowth) effects in the body. In two previous studies, Dr. Liu and his colleagues discovered that phytochemicals from apples effectively inhibited the growth of human breast cancer cells. In another study, Dr. Liu found that phytochemicals from apple peels inhibited an important inflammation pathway, NFkB, in human breast cancer cells, thereby reducing the proliferation of the cancer.

Dr. Liu told me that although other fruits and vegetables also contain phenolics and flavonoids, apples are one of the best dietary sources of fruit phenolics. In fact, of the top 25 fruits consumed in the US, apples provide 33% of the phenolics that Americans consume annually. “Americans love to eat apples, so it makes sense to encourage them as part of a balanced diet for optimal health,” he said, adding that this doesn’t mean anyone should forsake other fruits and vegetables. “It’s clear that regular consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help to prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease and cancer,” Dr. Liu said.

Source(s):

Rui Hai Liu, MD, PhD, is an associate professor in the department of food science at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

This is because the polyphenols found in the tea target molecular pathways that shut down the production and spread of tumor cells. Further, they inhibit the growth of tumor-nurturing blood vessels.

The study, which involved using a mouse model for human prostate cancer, indicated the consumption of green tea polyphenols (GTP) adjusted and reduced levels of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-driven molecular pathways in prostate tumor cells.

The findings supported other studies, which found that increased levels of IGF-1 were associated with the increased risk of various cancers, including:

~  Prostate

~  Breast

~  Lung

~  Colon
Researchers also discovered that these GTP reduced the expression of proteins typically linked to the metastatic (additional location) spread of cancer cells. This is because the polyphenols inhibited the levels of urokinase plasminogen activator as well as cellular molecules linked to the metastasis.

The views about BPA (bisphenol A), the toxic chemical used in many plastic products, is going from bad to worse. Not only is it more dangerous and ubiquitous than previously believed, now we’ve learned it is even used in medical devices. A new investigation is exploring whether patients undergoing such procedures as cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and kidney dialysis are suffering dangerous levels of exposure to this chemical. If this is found to be so, new regulations will be issued — but how much damage has already been done?

THE TOXIC IMPACT OF BPA

BPA is a chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics. In the human body, however, it acts like a hormone and can disrupt normal endocrine processes by mimicking the effects of estrogen( a xeno-estrogen). BPA has been linked to hormonal disturbances, reproductive and fetal abnormalities, breast and prostate cancer, neurological changes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and liver disorders. While news reports tend to focus on risks to developing fetuses and babies because of their extreme vulnerability, study results published in the September 17, 2008, issue of Journal of the American Medical Association note that adults with higher levels of BPA in their urine also have higher rates of heart disease and diabetes.

In animal studies, toxic effects of BPA occur at even very low concentrations, observes Scott Belcher, PhD, who has conducted research into the health effects of BPA at the University of Cincinnati. Yet US industry continues to produce more than six million pounds of this chemical each year, using it in baby bottles, large water bottles, food storage containers and many other products and to line food and beverage cans. It also is in dental sealants and composites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 90% of the population have detectable levels of BPA in their bodies.

Random daily exposure is bad enough, but it’s truly disconcerting to learn that many medical devices — including not only plastic tubing, such as intravenous (IV) lines and catheters, but even implants that remain indefinitely in the body — also contain BPA. This leads to high exposure over extended periods of time. For instance, In heart surgery, a pump takes over the work of the heart and lungs, circulating and oxygenating blood through plastic tubing while bypassing these vital organs. In dialysis, people with chronic kidney failure have their blood filtered and cleansed through tubes several times each week. The dangers are intensified by the fact that heat causes BPA to leach even more readily from the plastic — and blood, of course, is warm as it passes through tubes and back into the body.

TAKE STEPS TO LIMIT EXPOSURE

At present, there are few if any BPA-free alternatives for these crucial medical products, though Dr. Belcher told me he believes industry will be motivated to develop some if enough outrage gets expressed. The widespread use of BPA makes it difficult to evaluate all potential exposure sources, says Dr. Belcher. He stresses that it is most essential for high-risk groups — including pregnant and nursing women and infants and young children — to seek out products labeled BPA-free. However, limiting exposure makes sense for everyone — so Dr. Belcher offered a few common-sense suggestions on how to do that.

• Buy products packaged in glass rather than plastic bottles.

• Look for reusable water bottle makers, such as Nalgene and CamelBak, which now offer BPA-free plastic containers.

• Don’t reuse plastic bottles (such as for water) unless they are labeled BPA-free.

• Don’t drink coffee, tea or other hot beverages from plastic cups or bottles.

• Use glass or ceramic to heat foods, rather than plastic.

• Avoid microwaving plastic containers with food or water in them.

• Enjoy fresh or frozen foods rather than canned.

Source(s):

Scott Belcher, PhD, associate professor, pharmacology & cell biophysics, University of Cincinnati.