To the question "Can an apple keep the oncologist away?" researchers at the Mario Negri Institute, in collaboration with the Cro di Aviano, the Istituto Tumori di Genova, the Pascale di Naples, the Regina Elena di Rome and the Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, answered yes.

The study

The research, published in the Annals of Oncology, reports the results of a series of studies conducted in Italy from 1991 to 2002 on the dietary habits of more than eight thousand patients with various types of cancer, compared with those of a group of over six thousand people with conditions other than cancer: data on patients who did not consume apples were compared with those of patients who ate one or more a day. The analysis revealed that the risk of cancer in consumers of this fruit is reduced by 21 per cent in the case of oral cavity cancer, by 25 per cent for oesophageal cancer, by 20 per cent for colorectal cancer, by 18 per cent for breast cancer, by 15 per cent for ovarian cancer and by 9 per cent for prostate cancer.

The cancer-fighting apple ranking

According to experts, the credit for this preventive capacity lies in the polyphenol content, in particular proanthocyanidins, natural antioxidants that counteract free radicals, ageing and protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer. Based on polyphenol levels, experts have drawn up a ranking of cancer-fighting apples: in pole position is the Renetta, followed by Stark Deliciuos, Granny Smith, Morgendeft, Goldel Delicious, Royal Gala and Fuji.