News Briefs
The National Cancer Institute has recognized oleocanthal as a potential nutraceutical for breast cancer and awarded funds to Oleolive for research on its preventative benefits in triple negative breast cancer. Researchers are working to establish the potency and efficacy of oleocanthal as a functional food to prevent TNBC recurrence, with plans to seek further funding for clinical trials on humans.
America’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) has acknowledged oleocanthal as a potential nutraceutical for breast cancer and awarded $399,999 to the company, Oleolive, for the development of the phenolic compound as a functional food to prevent breast cancer.
The funds will be used to research the preventative and therapeutic benefits of oleocanthal in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) recurrence. Around 50,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with TNBC annually.
See Also:Health NewsA new, safe and effective recurrence inhibitor is urgently needed as the current outlook for TNBC patients is bleak due to high recurrence rates, poor overall survival rates and ineffective available treatments.
Oleocanthal experts Khalid El Sayed and Amal Kaddoumi, who are the company’s chief scientists and researchers at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, co-authored a 2017 study which revealed that oleocanthal was effective in preventing cancer and Alzheimer’s disease in mice and had the potential to become an effective dietary supplement for reducing the risk of developing both conditions.
El Sayed told Olive Oil Times the nutraceutical will be made available to patients once the team has established the desired potency and efficacy of the oleocanthal formulation for preventing TNBC recurrence. He said that further funding would be sought to prepare the formulation for clinical trials on humans.
“[I would] certainly recommend consumption of high-quality extra virgin olive oil daily for not only breast cancer survivors and patients but also for normal healthy people to maintain a condition of well-being based on the significant positive health outcomes documented by several clinical trials and epidemiological studies,” he said.
His recommendation was an average daily consumption of around 20 to 50 milliliters of olive oil per day, depending on an individual’s health and the quality of olive oil consumed. He advised new consumers of olive oil to start with smaller amounts (five to 10 milliliters) and gradually increase the daily dose over time.
More articles on: breast cancer, cancer prevention, oleocanthal
Jun. 23, 2025
Olive Pomace Ash Shows Promise as Eco-Friendly Cement Substitute
Replacing up to 20 percent of the cement used in mortar production with olive pomace ash lowers the environmental impact of cement production without compromising mortar quality.
Jul. 24, 2024
New Process Increases Sustainability, Phenolic Profile of Olive Leaf Extracts
A novel approach does not use harmful chemicals and creates an extract with potential uses in olive oil production and food packaging.
Jul. 29, 2024
Researchers Introduce AI Tool to Help Olive Farmers Predict Harvest Timing
Using machine learning to analyze a range of data points from model farms, researchers were able to predict the timing of the olive harvest with 90 percent accuracy.
Apr. 23, 2025
New Tool Uses Satellite Data to Combat Olive Fruit Fly
Researchers have developed a tool using satellite data to combat olive fruit fly infestations in changing climates.
Aug. 7, 2024
Researchers Identify 30 New Olive Varieties in Aragón
Further investigation is underway to determine the varieties’ characteristics and identify whether any could be used to produce olive oil on a commercial scale.
Oct. 18, 2024
Small Study Suggests Anti-Aging Potential of Polyphenols on Skin
Oleocanthal and oleacein significantly reduced wrinkle count in both men and women.
Aug. 20, 2024
Leveraging AI to Enhance Olive Oil Quality, Efficiency and Trust
AI has been improving olive farming for a decade, enhancing efficiency, decision-making, traceability, and sustainability. Recent advancements include predictive pricing, pest control, and personalized marketing.
Mar. 18, 2025
Exploring Olive Oil's Impact on Mental Well-being
The potential benefits of the Mediterranean diet for mental health warrant further research to identify the operative mechanisms.