Studies have not established the effect of grapefruit on breast cancer
Grapefruit has been found to have antioxidant, antiseptic, detoxicant, antinitrosaminic, cardiotonic, hypocholesterolemic, and sedative actions. Although components of grapefruit peel have been found to reduce blood pressure by decreasing coronary vascular resistance and mean arterial pressure, pink grapefruit juice appears to have proarrhythmic actions which might be of concern for some heart patients. Pink grapefruit is a good source of the phytochemicals naringenin, limonene, beta-carotene and lycopene, and also contains quercetin and hesperidin. Naringenin has been shown to have cytotoxic activity against leukemia, stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, cervix, and breast cancer cells. D-limonene has been used clinically to dissolve cholesterol-containing gallstones and for the relief of heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease. In addition, D-limonene has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of human colon cancer cells. Lycopene, a cartenoid responsible for the red color in pink and red grapefruit, has been found to inhibit the proliferation of rat prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner.
Breast cancer-related effects of eating grapefruit
Naringenin has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of hormone receptor positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells by impairing glucose uptake.
A major epidemiological study published in 2009 found no evidence of an association between grapefruit intake and the risk of breast cancer. However, there is evidence to suggest that grapefruit components may play a role in estrogen metabolism (in much the same way that drug interactions occur with grapefruit) and thereby increase circulating estrogen and breast cancer risk. Accordingly, another major population study published in 2007 found that grapefruit consumption was associated with increased risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women. Overall, the results of both the population-based and laboratory studies concerning grapefruit are contradictory.
Additional comments
Grapefruit should not be consumed during chemotherapy. Grapefruit juice can affect the metabolism of many drugs, in some cases increasing their effect and in other cases blocking their intended action. The effect can vary considerably from person to person, so that the extent of the impact of consuming grapefruit juice on drug metabolism is not predictable. Drug interactions have been observed between grapefruit and albendazole, amiodarone, atorvastatin, buspirone, carbamazepine, cisapride, cyclosporine, diltiazem, etoposide, felodipine, lovastatin, midazolam, nitrendipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, quinidine, sertraline, simvastatin, terfenidine, and triazolam, to name only some of the drugs affected. It has not been clearly determined which components of grapefruit are responsible for these drug interactions.
Tags: D-limonene, cardiovascular, carotenoids, chemotherapy, flavonoids, grapefruit, lycopene, naringenin, proliferation, statins