According to research, freeze dried strawberries could be a drug substitution for preventing oesophageal cancer.[1] Oesophageal cancer is the 3rd most commonly encountered gastrointestinal cancer as well as the 6th most frequent reason for cancer mortality worldwide. The researchers are investigating oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma, which accounts for 95% of cases of oesophageal cancer around the world.
In previous research, the researchers discovered that freeze dried strawberries inhibited the development of tumours in the oesophagus of rats. Influenced by these outcomes, they carried out a Phase Ib trial which included individuals having oesophageal precancerous lesions that had been at higher risk for oesophageal cancer.
Individuals ate 60 grams of freeze dried strawberries each day for 6 months and kept a dietary diary detailing their consumption of strawberries. Making use of freeze dried strawberries was significant because by extracting the water in the berries, the preventive substances were concentrated by almost 10 x times.
The researchers acquired biopsy specimens pre and post consumption of strawberries. The results indicated that 29 out of 36 individuals in the study had a histological grade reduction of the precancerous lesions.
The research concluded that 6 months of strawberry consumption is safe. The preliminary data also indicates that histological grade of precancerous lesions can be reduced with strawberries as well as in reduction in cancer-related molecular events.
The research is significant as it demonstrates that strawberries can slow the progress of precancerous lesion in the oesophagus. Strawberries could be an alternative to chemo preventive drugs for preventing oesophageal cancer.
