The risk of childhood leukaemia may be halved by eating oranges and bananas, a new study has found.
Kids who ate oranges, orange juice or bananas between four to six times a week up to the age of two had a significantly reduced risk of developing the cancer, according to an observational study by US researchers.
The evidence was presented at an international leukaemia conference in London on Thursday organised by charity Children with Leukaemia.
The high level of vitamin C in oranges and potassium in bananas are thought to protect against childhood leukaemia.
Marilyn Kwan, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Berkeley, said: “Our study is unique, and we have elucidated a significant protective association with the consumption of oranges, bananas and orange juice.”
She added that in her study “there was a 50 per cent reduction in risk”.
But she warned that without carrying out a randomised controlled trial, it will be difficult to predict how protective eating these fruits may be or to make firm public health recommendations.
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