Black Raspberries Found To Be “Highly Effective” In Preventing Colon Cancer

A U.S. study in mice has found that black raspberries are “highly effective” in preventing colorectal tumors, the third  most common cancer. Earlier studies had shown that  black raspberries have antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. The researchers used two strains of mice genetically altered to develop either intestinal tumors or colitis. The mice were randomly assigned either a Western-style diet (high in fat and low in calcium and vitamin D) or the same diet supplemented with 10 percent freeze-dried black raspberry powder for 12 weeks. The black raspberry-supplemented diet produced a wide variety of protective effects in the intestine, colon and rectum, researchers found. In one mouse strain, the number of tumors was reduced by 60 percent. The researchers hope to launch clinical studies soon.