Avocado to prevent leukaemia

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Extract from the article: Acute myeloid leukaemia can occur at any age, but the majority of cases occur after the age of 40. It is a blood cancer that develops very quickly, due to the uncontrolled multiplication of immature cells, abnormal blasts, in the bone marrow. These i

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Acute myeloid leukaemia can occur at any age, but the majority of cases occur after the age of 40. It is a blood cancer that develops very quickly, due to the uncontrolled multiplication of immature cells, abnormal blasts, in the bone marrow. These immature cells no longer develop into the normal mature cells found in the blood: they accumulate in the marrow and gradually suffocate it.  A study from the University of Guelph (Canada), published in the journal « Blood », highlights the effectiveness of a compound present in avocados in preventing the disease and thus reducing the risk of mortality. Avocado B, a fatty molecule found only in avocados, is believed to help prevent leukaemia by targeting an enzyme essential for the growth of malignant cells.

In order to grow and survive, leukaemia cells produce large quantities of an enzyme called VLCAD. This is the first time that VLCAD has been identified as a target in cancer. The research team screened nutraceutical compounds (any food that has a beneficial effect on the body) to find one that could inhibit the enzyme. Lo and behold, the best one was derived from avocados. In a previous study published in « Molecular Nutrition and Food Research », the same research team had shown that avocado B helps fight type 2 diabetes and obesity - the molecule was able to reduce insulin resistance.

Jean ELI