Avocados Contribute to Treatment for Leukemia

Avocados have long been touted as a superfood, but they might just be the key to treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Avocatin B, a lipid obtained from the fat of an avocado, has been shown to kill AML stem cells, according to a study published this monith in Cancer Research. The lipid is able to target harmful cells without affecting surrounding normal blood cells, allowing the healthy cells to thrive. “Not only does avocatin B eliminate the source of AML, but its targeted, selective effects make it less toxic to the body, too,” University of Waterloo Professor Paul Spagnuolo says about the study. AML is a type of cancer that starts in bone marrow and can progress very quickly if left untreated. In 2014, there were more than 18,800 new cases of AML, most of which were in adults.