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Palm oil fights cancer [New Straits Time (Malaysia)]
[January 05, 2014]

Palm oil fights cancer [New Straits Time (Malaysia)]


(New Straits Time (Malaysia) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) PALM oil helps in the fight against cancer. Cancer is a much- feared disease that claims many lives every year. It is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. It could strike anyone, regardless of age, gender, geographical location or background. For many of us, the big "C" has a death sentence attached to it. The good news is that today, this may no longer be the case. Studies carried out over the past two decades in the United States, Canada and Malaysia have shown that Vitamin E tocotrienols are "very effective" in putting cancer under control.



Not many people paid heed to tocotrienols 30 years ago, but of late, the scientific community just can't seem to get enough of it. Just in five years alone, dozens of papers have been published on this form of Vitamin E.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry (April 2000) reported that researchers from the University of California in Berkeley found tocotrienols, especially alpha-tocotrienol, to be effective in preventing age-related neuro degenerative diseases and certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer. The July 16 issue of Woman's World has an article on six breakthrough ways to prevent breast cancer and it reviews ways to keep our cells healthier, as well as how palm oil may be beneficial in the fight against advanced breast cancer.


Over the years, researchers have found evidence that tocotrienols may inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancer cells irrespective of estrogen receptor status. Tocotrienols have also been shown to inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro while research in vivo (involving animals) more than 15 years ago also showed that tocotrienols were able to inhibit breast cancer cell growth in a rat model. This exciting news has generated more research on the health benefits of tocotrienols as a useful source of potential anti-cancer properties.

Interestingly, tocotrienols are well-tolerated by humans as recent clinical study on pancreatic cancer by Prof Mokenge Malafa at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute of Florida, shows that patients consuming doses of up to 3,200mg daily experience none of the observable adverse side effects.

Those looking for Vitamin E tocotrienols need not look far to get it. It is abundantly found in palm oil, which is easily available on the shelves. Indeed, palm oil is nature's richest source of Vitamin E tocotrienols.

Given its relative abundance, palm oil is arguably the most suitable feedstock to meet global demand for Vitamin E tocotrienols.

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