Most breast cancers are estrogen-dependent. So a class of drugs called aromatase inhibitors ( AI ) that block the synthesis of estrogen are utilised by mainstream medical doctors to try to slow the growth of estrogen sensitive breast growths. Unfortunately, as the mayo clinic internet site points out, AI drugs — which include anastrozole ( Arimidex ), letrozole ( Femara ) and exemestane ( Aromasin ) — come stuffed with complications including hot flashes, severe joint discomfort, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, bone breaks and a potential risk of heart problems.
But now comes excellent news : there seems to be a natural alternative choice to AIs. Researchers say they’ve found a substance that would prevent the development of hormone-dependent breast cancer and halt the expansion of estrogen-driven cancers — pomegranate fruit.
Pomegranates contain phytochemicals known as ellagitannins that work much like aromatase inhibitors, according to results of a study just published in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research, a book of the American association for Cancer Research. And there’s small reason to think any cancer treatment derived from pomegranates would have damaging side-effects because the fruit has long been safely consumed as a food.
Analysts and other scientists investigated whether phytochemicals in pomegranates can suppress aromatase and thus hold back cancer growth. They screened and researched 10 ellagitannin-derived compounds in pomegranates. The results? They discovered these natural phytochemicals have the potential to prevent estrogen-dependent breast cancers. One particular substance found in pomegranates dubbed Urolithin B significantly inhibited the growth of cultured breast cancer cells in the laboratory.
Additional studies are needed in animals and humans to confirm the ability of Urolithin B to stop hormone-dependent breast cancer along with extra studies to test pomegranate juice for its effect on estrogen levels, menopausal symptoms and breast density ( dense breast tissue is a risk for breast cancer ) and to determine if it’s a cancer preventive agent.
Pomegranates and pomegranate juice is not only delicious, but it seems to have cancer protection benefits as well.