Skip to: site menu | section menu | main content
Grapefruit 'increases breast cancer risk...
A recent study suggests that women who eat grapefruit may increase their risk of breast cancer by up to one-third!
The research indicates that grapefruit boosts blood levels of the hormone oestrogen, which is linked with the risk of breast cancer. In the United Kingdom, there are over 40,000 cases of breast cancer each year of of those diagnosed nearly 13,000 died from the disease.
The research was carried out at the universities of Southern California in Los Angeles and Hawaii in Honolulu, where studies of more than 50,000 post-menopausal women, including 1,657 with breast cancer were examined.
The scientists writing in the British Journal of Cancer concluded that eating grapefruit was "significantly associated" with an increased risk of breast cancer.
"There was a 30 per cent increase for subjects in the highest category of intake, that is one quarter of grapefruit or more per day compared to non-consumers," they said.
One conclusion reached by the scientists was that "Since it is well established that oestrogen is associated with breast cancer risk, it is plausible that regular intake of grapefruit would increase a woman's risk of breast cancer."
NOTE: This web site is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice. The information provided through this site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider