Studies have not established the effect of oranges on breast cancer
Oranges contain substances that have been shown to be antiproliferative and antioxidant. The major antioxidant component of orange juice is vitamin C. Studies have also found that oranges inhibit breast cancer in mice and have proapoptic effects on breast cancer cells.
Breast cancer-related effects of eating oranges
Oranges and tangerines and their peels contain flavonoids (hesperetin, tangeretin, naringenin, nobiletin, quercetin) that have been shown to have antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on breast cancer cells. Dietary flavonoids are also believed to aid the body's antioxidant defenses against free radicals. Oranges also contain limonoids, which appear to possess substantial anticancer activity.
Orange juice has been shown to reduce the extent of DNA damage caused by certain mutagens. Although initial studies concerning the chemopreventive properties of oranges are promising, they have for the most part been conducted primarily with in vitro cell culture and animal models. However, Korean and Uruguayan studies have found an association between orange juice consumption and lower incidence of breast cancer.
Additional comments
Citrus peel products and extracts should not be used during treatment with tamoxifen. This includes orange peel and tangeretin supplements, orange flavored teas, orange marmalade, dried tangerine peel (an ingredient in many Chinese dishes such as Orange Chicken), orange peel extract, and citrus oil. Tangeretin has been shown to interfere with the effectiveness of tamoxifen treatment.
Tags: flavone, flavonoids, naringenin, oranges, proliferation, tangeretin, vitaminC