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I happened upon a short review indicating a significant advance for
Barrett's esophagus at the same time I learned of two friends who had
this condition. So I checked further, and this appears significant and
solid.
The two abstracts below indicate that black raspberries or strawberries
may cut the risk of progression from Barrett's esophagus to cancer by on
the order of 50%. I ordered and read the full text of both articles and
found no loose ends. I related this to both friends; one told me that a
physician at MD Anderson, one of the nation's top cancer centers, had
told him the same thing, to eat these berries, based upon these studies.
One of the key active ingredients appears to be ellagic acid, but study
results indicated that the anticancer activity observed could not be
attributed to this alone. However, I checked with an expert in
complementary medicine, who indicated that pomegranite juice contains
the most ellagic acid of any common fruit, and this may be perhaps the
most effective fruit for prevention of esophageal cancer.
Since a related study found no benefit of stawberries for lung cancer,
it appears that direct contact of the fruit with the throat is an
important factor. The dose given to animals was equivalent to about 1.5
cups of berries per day for an adult - there was little difference
between the results at that dose and double it. It appears, however
that sipping the juice over a long period, chewing the fruits slowly, or
otherwise prolonging the time of contact of fruit to throat will enhance
the effect and provide significant benefits even at lesser quantitites.
There are also hundreds of studies demonstrating significant
antineoplastic activity of a series of lipids, one of which, alpha
linolenic acid (ALA), is 50% of flax seed oil (ALA is also beneficial
for cardiovascular health). I believe there would be significant
benefit as well to drink say a teaspoon of that per day, perhaps blended
in yogurt with berries, again, sipping it over a period of time to
maximize length of exposure to the throat . - David Scheim
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Chemoprevention of esophageal tumorigenesis by dietary administration of
lyophilized black raspberries.
Kresty LA, Morse MA, Morgan C, Carlton PS, Lu J, Gupta A, Blackwood M,
Stoner GD.
Cancer Res 2001 Aug 15;61(16):6112-9 Division of Environmental Health
Sciences, School of Public Health, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio
State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Fruit and vegetable consumption has consistently been associated with
decreased risk of a number of aerodigestive tract cancers, including
esophageal cancer. We have taken a "food-based" chemopreventive approach
to evaluate the inhibitory potential of lyophilized black raspberries
(LBRs) against N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced esophageal
tumorigenesis in the F344 rat, during initiation and postinitiation
phases of carcinogenesis. Anti-initiation studies included a 30-week
tumorigenicity bioassay, quantification of DNA adducts, and NMBA
metabolism study. Feeding 5 and 10% LBRs, for 2 weeks prior to NMBA
treatment (0.25 mg/kg, weekly for 15 weeks) and throughout a 30-week
bioassay, significantly reduced tumor multiplicity (39 and 49%,
respectively). In a short-term bioassay, 5 and 10% LBRs inhibited
formation of the promutagenic adduct O(6)-methylguanine (O(6)-meGua) by
73 and 80%, respectively, after a single dose of NMBA at 0.25 mg/kg.
Feeding 5% LBRs also significantly inhibited adduct formation (64%)
after NMBA administration at 0.50 mg/kg. The postinitiation inhibitory
potential of berries was evaluated in a second bioassay with sacrifices
at 15, 25, and 35 weeks. Administration of LBRs began after NMBA
treatment (0.25 mg/kg, three times per week for 5 weeks). LBRs inhibited
tumor progression as evidenced by significant reductions in the
formation of preneoplastic esophageal lesions, decreased tumor incidence
and multiplicity, and reduced cellular proliferation. At 25 weeks, both
5 and 10% LBRs significantly reduced tumor incidence (54 and 46%,
respectively), tumor multiplicity (62 and 43%, respectively),
proliferation rates, and preneoplastic lesion development. Yet, at 35
weeks, only 5% LBRs significantly reduced tumor incidence and
multiplicity, proliferation indices and preneoplastic lesion formation.
In conclusion, dietary administration of LBRs inhibited events
associated with both the initiation and promotion/progression stages of
carcinogenesis, which is promising considering the limited number of
chemopreventives with this potential.
----
1: Carcinogenesis 2001 Mar;22(3):441-6
Inhibition of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced tumorigenesis in the
rat esophagus by dietary freeze-dried strawberries.
Carlton PS, Kresty LA, Siglin JC, Morse MA, Lu J, Morgan C, Stoner GD.
Division of Environmental Health Sciences, The Ohio State University
School of Public Health and Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard
J. Solove Research Institute, Room 1148, 300 West 10th Avenue, Columbus,
OH 43210, USA.
In the present study, we examined the ability of dietary freeze-dried
strawberries to inhibit N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced
tumorigenesis in the rat esophagus. Initially, we conducted a bioassay
to determine the effects of dietary freeze-dried strawberries on
esophageal tumor development.
Two weeks prior to NMBA treatment, animals were placed on a control diet
or diets containing 5 and 10% freeze-dried strawberries. NMBA treatment
was once per week for 15 weeks. At 30 weeks, 5 and 10% freeze-dried
strawberries in the diet caused significant reductions in esophageal
tumor multiplicity of 24 and 56%, respectively. Based on these results,
we conducted studies to determine potential mechanisms by which freeze-
dried strawberries inhibit tumorigenesis.
In a short-term bioassay, we evaluated the effects of dietary freeze-
dried strawberries on the formation of O6-methylguanine in the rat
esophagus. Animals were placed on control diet or diets containing 5
and 10% freeze-dried strawberries for two weeks. At the end of this
period, animals received a single subcutaneous dose of NMBA and were
killed 24 h later. A significant decrease in O6-methylguanine levels was
observed in the esophageal DNA of animals fed strawberries, suggesting
that one or more components in strawberries influence the metabolism of
NMBA to DNA-damaging species. Finally, in order to evaluate post-
initiation effects, we conducted a study where freeze-dried strawberries
were administered in the diet only following NMBA treatment. Animals
were placed on control diet and dosed with NMBA three times per week for
5 weeks. Immediately following NMBA treatment, animals were placed on
control diet or diets containing 5 and 10% freeze-dried strawberries. At
25 weeks, 5 and 10% freeze-dried strawberries in the diet significantly
reduced tumor multiplicity by 38 and 31%, respectively. Our data suggest
that dietary freeze-dried strawberries effectively inhibit NMBA-induced
tumorigenesis in the rat esophagus.
----------------------
David E. Scheim, Ph.D.
3300 Old Farm Road
Blacksburg, VA 24060
540 552-8014 [log in to unmask]
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