An avocado extract has been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in lab research. Writing in this month’s issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, UCLA scientists note that avocados are the richest source of lutein among commonly eaten fruits. This carotenoid acts as an antioxidant and has been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer in previous studies. In a new study, they looked at the inhibition of human prostate cancer cell growth when exposed to an extract of whole avocado fruit versus treatment with pure lutein. Dr David Heber, director of the UCLA center for human nutrition, and colleagues showed that when avocado extract was added to two lines of prostate cancer cells, cell growth was inhibited by up to 60 percent, whereas purified lutein alone was ineffective.
