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Grapes in a parcel of a vineyard protected by a mobile umbrella system using solar energy, in Rians, southern France. — AFP/File
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Social media posts claim that consuming grape seeds or grape seed oil can cure cancer. But cancer experts say fruit supplements are still being studied and there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support the claims, while US health regulators warn against cancer treatments promoted on social media. do
“They hid this seed for over 100 years, because it can cure any cancer in just a few days,” claims a Facebook post dated January 24, 2022.
Similar posts can be found on Facebook here, here and here.
Alternative therapies, alternative medicine and even effective treatment advice for disease are often used online, and cancer is no exception. AFP has previously debunked claims that certain foods — including lemon juice, apricot seeds, warm pineapple water and dandelion root extract — are effective cancer treatments.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns consumers to “beware of products claiming to cure cancer on websites or social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram.”
The FDA website notes that these unproven treatments come in many forms, “including tablets, capsules, powders, creams, teas, oils, and treatment kits” and are “often advertised as ‘natural’ treatments.” are often mislabeled as dietary supplements.”
Dr Stacey D’Andre, an oncologist and integrative medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic, told AFP: “Grape seed supplements are being studied for their anti-cancer potential, but there is no conclusive evidence. that this supplement can treat or cure cancer.”
Preliminary trials with cell culture and animal models and prostate cancer patients show anticancer activity, but more research is needed, he said.
Results are also not uniform across cancers. “One study showed that people who ate grape seeds had a lower risk of blood cancer,” he explained, but another found that “grape seeds reduced radiation therapy in breast cancer patients.” It didn’t help with the side effects.”
This was echoed by The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a treatment and research center in New York. Its website says: “Although it has antioxidant properties, grape seed has not been shown to treat or prevent cancer.”
Dr. Nagy Kumar, a senior member of the Cancer Epidemiology Program and Department of Breast and Genitourinary Oncology at Moffat Cancer Center in Florida, cautioned that “more information is needed on these promising compounds from grape seed products.”
Early studies examining grape seed oil showed encouraging results, including “a reduction in markers of inflammation and insulin resistance, which are implicated in obesity and thus cancer,” Kumar said.
But he said: “It is still unclear how long these compounds stay in the blood and how many of these compounds are used to get into the blood of humans to provide these beneficial effects. All studies are still needed.”
Dr. Margie McCullough, senior scientific director of epidemiology research at the American Cancer Society, agreed. “Grape seed extract (GSE) is rich in proanthocyanidins that have antioxidant properties. However, a limited number of studies in humans have not shown that GSE can prevent or treat cancer.”
“Proanthocyanidins are found in a variety of plant foods, including berries, apples, kidney beans and nuts, and are therefore part of a healthy, mostly plant-based diet,” he added. can be.”
Both D’Andre and McCullough also caution that grape seed products can potentially interact with other medications. They recommend disclosing all supplements taken or considered to one’s health care provider.
