Studies have not established the effect of kiwifruit on breast cancer

Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa or Actinidia chinensis deliciosa), also know as kiwi fruit, kiwi, and Chinese gooseberry, is a native of Asia rich in vitamin C, fiber and potassium, and also contains significant vitamin A and vitamin E. In addition, kiwifruit has other biologically active components, including lutein, beta-carotene, fisetin, caffeic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, actinidin, coumarin, kiwellin, actinidin, quercitrin, and ursolic acid. Kiwifruit has been shown to improve the cholesterol profile of human subjects. Kiwifruit has also been shown to have antioxidant, laxative, antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and cardiovascular protective effects.

Cancer-related effects of eating kiwifruit

Kiwifruit consumption has been found to enhance markers of immune response in laboratory mice. Regular kiwifruit consumption has also been shown in several studies to significantly increase the ability of the body to repair DNA breakage by free radicals. Fisetin, a component of kiwifruit, has been found to induce apoptosis of human colon cancer cells. Various extracts of kiwifruit have been found to have selective cytotoxic activity against human oral cancer cells.

Additional comments

Kiwifruit sold in the U.S. normally has green flesh when ripe. However, there exist some cultivars with red pigments in the flesh, and these are likely to contain more cancer-fighting anthocyanins and carotenoids than regular kiwifruit.

Note that while we are continually searching for new evidence specifically concerning this food, there is not much interest in it among breast cancer researchers, so few studies are available.

Tags: antifungal, betaCarotene, cardiovascular, carotenoids, fiber, fisetin, flavonoids, kiwifruit, proliferation, vitaminA, vitaminC, vitaminE

Selected breast cancer studies
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Dietary flavonoid fisetin targets caspase-3-deficient human breast cancer MCF-7 cells by induction of caspase-7-associated apoptosis and inhibition of autophagy Induction of apoptotic cell death by ursolic acid through mitochondrial death pathway and extrinsic death receptor pathway in MDA-MB-231 cells Polyphenol contents and in vitro antioxidant activities of lyophilised aqueous extract of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) Effects of kiwifruit consumption on serum lipid profiles and antioxidative status in hyperlipidemic subjects Kiwifruit extract enhances markers of innate and acquired immunity in a murine model Activation of caspase-8 contributes induction of apoptosis in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells by the dietary compound fisetin Cancer prevention and therapy with kiwifruit in Chinese folklore medicine: a study of kiwifruit extracts Differentiation-Inducing Effects of Small Fruit Juices on HL-60 Leukemic Cells