A new research paper came out recently that linked oleic acid with processes that prevent brain cancer. Another reason to propose to anyone to try the ketogenic diet at least for one month.
You can read the full paper here: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022283617301997
The oily substance -- one of a group of nutrients known as fatty acids -- stimulates the production of a cell molecule whose function is to prevent cancer-causing proteins from forming.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh analysed the effect of oleic acid on a cell molecule, known as miR-7, which is active in the brain and is known to suppress the formation of tumours.
They found that oleic acid prevents a cell protein, known as MSI2, from stopping production of miR-7. In this way, the olive oil component supports the production of miR-7, which helps prevent tumours from forming.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170602112837.htm
In this study, we have explored the inhibitory action of OA against the RNA-BPs involved in the inhibition of miR-7 biogenesis. We demonstrated that OA not only inhibits the binding of MSI2 protein but also interferes with other RRM-containing RNA-BPs known to bind to the miR-7 CTL. More interestingly, OA treatment showed opposite effects on the in vitro processing of the pri-miR-7 and pri-miR-16.
We propose that OA can be used as a molecular tool to study the regulation of RNA processing and to provide an entry point into designing therapies targeted at miR-7 biogenesis pathways.
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