October breast cancer awareness month: What We Know About Olive Polyphenols
Updated: 3 days ago
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time to increase awareness of breast cancer, encourage appropriate screening and early detection, support people affected by the disease, and promote continued research. Breast Cancer Awareness Month takes place every October, with organizations across the United States using the month to promote breast health and access to screening and support.
At the same time, October provides an opportunity to learn more about nutrition and naturally occurring compounds that scientists are studying for their potential biological effects.
One area of research receiving attention is the relationship between olive polyphenols and breast cancer.
Olive Polyphenols and Breast Cancer Research
Olive trees and their products contain a variety of naturally occurring polyphenols. Among them is oleuropein, a prominent phenolic compound found particularly in olive leaves and olives.
Researchers have investigated oleuropein and other olive-derived compounds in laboratory models because of their antioxidant activity and their effects on several cellular processes.
Research reviews have reported that oleuropein has demonstrated effects on cell proliferation, cell-cycle regulation, migration and apoptosis in various breast cancer cell models.
These findings are scientifically interesting but they need to be understood in the proper context.
What Does the Research Actually Show?
Much of the research involving oleuropein and breast cancer has been conducted in vitro, meaning researchers studied cells in laboratory settings. Other studies have used animal models.
For example, researchers have reported that oleuropein affected the growth and survival of several breast cancer cell lines, including MCF-7 and other experimental models. Some studies have also investigated potential effects on cellular pathways associated with apoptosis, proliferation and migration.
Animal studies have also produced interesting findings involving olive-derived compounds. However, results observed in cells or animals cannot automatically be translated into the same effect in humans.
Why This Distinction Matters
A laboratory finding is an important step in scientific research, but it is not proof that a dietary supplement can prevent or treat cancer in people.
At this time, the available evidence regarding olive leaf extract and cancer remains primarily preclinical. More human research is needed to determine whether the laboratory observations involving oleuropein and other olive compounds have meaningful clinical effects.
Therefore, olive leaf extract should not be considered a treatment or cure for breast cancer, and it should not replace mammograms, medical evaluation, prescribed treatments or advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
Oleuropein: A Natural Compound from the Olive Tree
Oleuropein is one of the characteristic polyphenols associated with the olive tree (Olea europaea).
Olive leaves naturally contain oleuropein, which is one reason olive leaf has attracted scientific interest. Researchers continue to study how olive polyphenols interact with biological systems and how their antioxidant and other biological properties may contribute to overall health.
For people interested in Mediterranean nutrition, olives, extra virgin olive oil and olive leaves represent naturally occurring sources of different plant compounds.
Breast Health Comes First
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is ultimately about more than any individual food, ingredient or supplement.
It is an opportunity to pay attention to breast health and to discuss appropriate screening with your healthcare professional.
Breast cancer screening can help detect cancer before symptoms appear and may identify cancer at an earlier stage. Screening recommendations can vary according to age, personal risk factors and medical history, so it is important to discuss the appropriate screening schedule with your healthcare provider.
Be aware of changes in your breasts and discuss unusual or persistent changes with a healthcare professional.
Early detection and appropriate medical care remain essential.
A Mediterranean Approach to Wellness
The Mediterranean lifestyle has long emphasized vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish, nuts, olive oil and other plant-based foods.
Olive products are particularly interesting because they provide naturally occurring polyphenols that continue to be studied by researchers.
A balanced diet and healthy lifestyle can be part of an overall approach to wellness. However, no single food, ingredient or supplement should be presented as a substitute for medical care or as a guaranteed way to prevent disease.
Olive Leaf Extract and Oleuropein
Olive leaf extract is naturally associated with compounds such as oleuropein and other polyphenols.
At VitaLife, our focus is on bringing a liquid olive leaf extract from Italy to consumers in the United States.
The product is intended as a dietary supplement for general wellness. Its presence in scientific research should not be interpreted as evidence that VitaLife prevents, treats or cures breast cancer or any other disease.
If you are currently undergoing cancer treatment or taking medications, speak with your healthcare professional before using any dietary supplement.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Turn Awareness Into Action
This October, take the opportunity to:
Learn more about breast health.
Discuss your personal screening needs with your healthcare professional.
Pay attention to changes in your breasts and report concerns promptly.
Support people living with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors.
Learn about ongoing cancer research.
Make healthy lifestyle choices that support your overall well-being.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is also a reminder that scientific research takes time. Promising laboratory discoveries can help researchers identify new areas for investigation, but they must ultimately be evaluated through appropriate human studies.
The Bottom Line
Research into oleuropein and olive polyphenols is promising and continues to develop, particularly in laboratory and preclinical models. However, there is currently not enough human evidence to say that olive leaf extract prevents or treats breast cancer.
The best approach is to view olive leaf extract as a source of naturally occurring olive polyphenols within a broader healthy lifestyle—not as a cancer treatment.
Awareness. Research. Early detection. Healthy choices.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, take care of your health and talk with your healthcare professional about the steps that are right for you.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Olive Leaf Extract ally for your health.
Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.
Olive oil intake has been shown to induce significant levels of apoptosis in various cancer cells. These anti-cancer properties are thought to be mediated by phenolic compounds present in olive. These beneficial health effects of olive have been attributed, at least in part, to the presence of oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol. In this study, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, major phenolic compound of olive oil, was studied for its effects on growth in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells using assays for proliferation (MTT assay), cell viability (Guava ViaCount assay), cell apoptosis, cellcycle (flow cytometry). Oleuropein or hydroxytyrosol decreased cell viability, inhibited cell proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Result of MTT assay showed that 200 μg/mL of oleuropein or 50 μg/mL of hydroxytyrosol remarkably reduced cell viability of MCF-7 cells. Oleuropein or hydroxytyrosol decrease of the number of MCF-7 cells by inhibiting the rate of cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis. Also hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein exhibited statistically significant block of G1 to S phase transition manifested by the increase of cell number in G0/G1 phase.
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October breast cancer awareness month
Evidence to Support the Anti-Cancer Effect of Olive Leaf Extract and Future Directions
EVOO is primarily a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) in the form of oleic acid, with minor components including various phenolics [15]. It has been recognised that the polyphenol content plays an important role in health benefits. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have approved the use of the general claim “olive oil polyphenols contribute to the protection of blood lipids from oxidative stress” when oil contains no less than 5 mg of hydroxytyrosol (HT) and its derivatives (such as tyrosol and oleuropein) per 20 mL OO [16] (Figure 1). There are several studies that have shown that EVOO with higher phenolic content provides stronger anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects than OO with a lower phenolic content [17,18]. This suggests the phenolic component, rather than the fat in the oil, is the effector.
Olive tree leaves (Olea europaea) are widely used in traditional medicine in the Mediterranean region [20]. In the Bible, the olive plant is referenced numerous times for its medicinal use [21]. The bioactive properties of the leaf have created a foundation for use as an antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic treatment [20]. Olive tree leaves contain similar polyphenols to those found in EVOO or the fruit itself, albeit at a much higher concentration [20,22]. Consequently, olive leaf extract (OLE) may hold an even greater potential than EVOO for improving health outcomes. During EVOO processing leaves can unintentionally be left in the mixture if the separation methods are inadequate, alternately leaves can also be added to EVOO mixtures to provide health benefits and improve flavor [23]. The addition of leaves increase the phenolic and chlorophyll content of the oil but also the organoleptic traits as measured in volunteer taste tests [24]. Components of OLE that are not detected in the oil from the fruit include several flavonoids, namely luteolin and apigenin, which have demonstrated anti-cancer properties [25,26,27,28,29]. In addition, the structure of phenolics differs between the olive fruit and leaf, with OLE containing a higher proportion with a glycoside moiety (Figure 2 and Table 1) [19]. The presence of a glucose molecule could play an important role in respect to both bioavailability and bioactive potential of the polyphenols, thereby impacting the health benefits for humans.
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October breast cancer awareness month
Hydroxytyrosol and Potential Uses in Cardiovascular Diseases, Cancer, and AIDS
October breast cancer awareness month
Hydroxytyrosol is one of the main phenolic components of olive oil. It is present in the fruit and leaf of the olive (Olea europaea L.). During the past decades, it has been well documented that this phenolic compound has health benefits and a protective action has been found in preclinical studies against several diseases. Here, we review its bioavailability in human beings and several assays showing significant results related with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
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VitaLife, the liquid olive leaf extract Made in Italy is rich in Oleuropein, Elenolic Acid, Rutin, Tyrosol and the efficient antioxidant Hydroxytirosol, now available in the USA market.
Important Disclaimer
VitaLife is a dietary supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Scientific research involving olive polyphenols and oleuropein is ongoing, and laboratory or animal findings should not be interpreted as proof of clinical benefits in humans. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, medications or the use of dietary supplements.
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