Can olive oil prevent brain cancer? Key nutrient in the staple Mediterranean ingredient stops tumour-causing cells from functioning

The compound, known as oleic acid, indirectly prevents brain cancer formation
Oleic acid inhibits a protein that hinders the production of a molecule – miR-7
miR-7 is a cell molecule that is known to suppress tumour formation in the brain
It is unclear whether adding olive oil to your diet could reduce brain cancer risk
Researchers believe their findings could pave the way for new cancer therapies

A key nutrient in olive oil may help to prevent cancer developing in the brain, new research reveals.

The staple Mediterranean ingredient contains a compound called oleic acid that stops cancer-causing genes from functioning in brain cells, the study found.

It is unclear whether increasing our consumption of olive oil may prevent brain cancer, however, the study’s findings could lead to new disease therapies, the researchers said.

Study author Dr Gracjan Michlewski, from the University of Edinburgh, said: ‘While we cannot yet say that olive oil in the diet helps prevent brain cancer, our findings do suggest that oleic acid can support the production of tumour-suppressing molecules in cells grown in the lab.

‘Further studies could help determine the role that olive oil might have in brain health.’

A key nutrient in olive oil may prevent cancer developing in the brain, new research reveals

EATING OLIVE OIL COULD STAVE OFF ALZHEIMER’S

Fats found in olive oil, fish and nuts can help preserve your memory and problem-solving abilities as you age, according to research from the University of Illinois.

Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids found in these food groups protect the areas of the brain that are most affected by ageing, two new studies have found.

The fatty acids help to preserve the frontoparietal cortex – a brain network responsible for problem solving, the research adds.

These same fats may also aid in the maintenance of the fornix, which is a small brain region that has previously been linked to memory and Alzheimer’s disease, the study also revealed.

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, analysed the impact of oleic acid on a cell molecule, known as miR-7, that is known to suppress brain tumour formation.

Results, published in the Journal of Molecular Biology, revealed that oleic acid prevents a specific protein from inhibiting miR-7’s production.

Oleic acid therefore indirectly boosts miR-7 levels, which helps to prevent brain tumours from forming.

Impact of olive oil in our diet is unclear

Dr Michlewski said: ‘While we cannot yet say that olive oil in the diet helps prevent brain cancer, our findings do suggest that oleic acid can support the production of tumour-suppressing molecules in cells grown in the lab.

‘Further studies could help determine the role that olive oil might have in brain health.’

This comes after researchers from the University of Southern Denmark found olive oil and other omega-3 fatty acid sources could prevent potentially life-threatening food poisoning by ‘switching off’ genes for the listeria bacteria.

Not killing the bacteria may be beneficial, as they only develop resistance when their growth is threatened, the researchers said.