Drinking orange juice every day may help prevent cancer, new research has claimed.
Orange juice has many potential positive effects when it comes to cancer, particularly because it is high in antioxidants from flavonoids such as hesperitin and naringinin, researchers said.
Biological effects of orange juice in vitro are largely influenced by the juice's composition, which is dependent on physiological conditions of the oranges such as climate, soil, fruit maturation, and storage methods post-harvest.
The review article, published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, summarises several biological effects of orange juice that can contribute to chemo-prevention, including antioxidant, antimutagenic and antigenotoxic, cytoprotective, hormonal, and cell signalling modulating effects.
Orange juice has antimicrobial and antiviral action and modulates the absorption of xenobiotics, researchers said.
"Orange juice could contribute to chemo-prevention at every stage of cancer initiation and progression," said researchers.
"Among the most relevant biological effects of Orange juice is the juice's antigenotoxic and antimutagenic potential, which was shown in cells in culture and in rodents and humans," they said.
The researchers acknowledge potential toxicity from orange juice if consumed in excess amounts - especially for children, hypertensive, kidney-compromised, and diabetics.
Excessive drinking of orange juice for individuals from these groups has the potential to create noxious effects, hyperkalemia, and has been associated with both food allergies and bacterial outbreaks in cases where the juice was unpasteurised.
"Excessive intake of any food, even for the healthiest, can lead to oxidative status imbalance," researchers said.
Researchers said further research is highly recommended to determine the biological connection between orange juice and cancer chemo-prevention.
Evidence from previous in vitro studies has indicated that orange juice can reduce the risk of leukaemia in children, as well as aid in chemo-prevention against mammary, hepatic, and colon cancers.
