Tuesday July 1, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- GM soybean and GM corn products are everywhere and rumor has it that the genetically modified foods may cause health problems such as premature death, aging infertility and cancer among others.   A new study suggests eating extra virgin olive oil may help reduce DNA damage induced by consumption of genetically modified soybean.

The study shows that rodents eating genetically modified (GM) soybean significantly reduced the amount of DNA in the spleen but those eating both GM soybean and extra virgin olive oil endured less DNA damage.   The DNA levels in rats fed GM soybean and extra virgin olive oil fell into the normal range.

In the study, 40 adult male albino rats were fed one of the four diets - basal ration only; basal ration plus 30% extra virgin olive oil; basal ration plus 15% genetically modified soybean; basal ration plus genetically modified soybean and olive oil for 65 consecutive days.

The study also finds that extra virgin olive oil can normalize other parameters such as normochromatic erythrocytes altered by GM soybean.

Researchers suggest that antioxidants in extra virgin olive oil render the protective effect.  Antioxidants in olive oil and Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil have been associated with low incidence of cancer in previous studies.

The researchers reported that other scientists including Jeffery Smith, Jee-Youn et al., Aiad, Khataibeh et al. and Tudisco et al. presented evidence that suggests "a GM soya bean diet could lead to liver and/or DNA damage in rats." (David Liu, PHD)

El-Kholy TA, Abu Hilal M, Al-Abbadi HA, Serafi AS, Al-Ghamdi AK, Sobhy HM, Richardson JR.  The effect of extra virgin olive oil and soybean on DNA, cytogenicity and some antioxidant enzymes in rats.  Nutrients. 2014 Jun 23;6(6):2376-86. doi: 10.3390/nu6062376.