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The effect of apple feeding on markers of colon carcinogenesis

Morten Poulsen1, Alicja Mortensen, Mona-Lise Binderup

  • 1Department of Toxicology and Risk Assessment, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Søborg, Denmark. morp@food.dtu.dk

Nutrition and Cancer
|March 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Whole apple consumption may reduce colon cancer precursors in rats, but the effect isn't dose-dependent. Further research is needed to understand the chemopreventive properties of apples.

Area of Science:

  • Nutrition Science
  • Cancer Research
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Fruits and vegetables are linked to lower cancer risks.
  • Apples may possess chemopreventive properties.
  • Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are early markers of colon cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the chemopreventive potential of whole raw apple against colon cancer markers in rats.
  • To assess the effect of apple consumption on aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation.
  • To evaluate DNA damage and liver enzyme alterations in response to apple feeding.

Main Methods:

  • Rats were initiated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride (DMH).
  • Groups received 0, 5, or 10 g of whole raw apple daily for 13 weeks.
  • Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and DNA damage (comet assay) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • The 5 g/day apple group showed significantly fewer ACF than controls (P = 0.009).
  • DMH treatment increased DNA damage in leukocytes (P = 0.021); apple feeding did not show an antigenotoxic effect in the colon.
  • Apple feeding tended to reduce liver DNA damage and significantly increased liver alanine aminotransferase levels.

Conclusions:

  • Whole apple consumption may influence preneoplastic changes in the rat colon.
  • The chemopreventive effect of apples on colon ACF was not dose-dependent.
  • Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms and non-linear effects of apple consumption on cancer prevention.

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