Eating apples every day could slash the risk of up to five different types of cancer, according to new research.

Scientists found those eating at least one a day were much less likely to get lung, bowel, mouth, digestive tract or breast tumours than people who rarely or never eat the popular fruit.

A review of over 40 previous studies, by experts at the University of Perugia in Italy, found the biggest benefits were seen in cancer of the stomach and oesophagus, where some data suggested apples nearly halved tumour risk.

Apple eaters were found to be much less likely to get lung, bowel, mouth, digestive tract or breast tumours than those who rarely or never ate the fruit

Lung tumour rates among apple lovers were about 25 per cent lower while breast cancer cases were reduced by a fifth.

A healthy diet - including regular intake of fruit and vegetables - has long been thought to have a protective effect against many types of cancer.

But there has been little evidence on which plant foods in particular confer the most benefit.

Researchers undertook the latest review to try and pinpoint whether apples, as one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world, play a significant role in tumour prevention.

They pooled data from over 40 different studies investigating diet and cancer.

The results, published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, showed the biggest consumers of the fruit had significantly lower cancer rates than the lowest.

The researchers said: 'Because of the peculiar chemical composition and the

potential molecular mechanisms involved, it is possible some types of fruits and vegetables may be much more strongly associated with cancer risk than others.

'Our interest was attracted by apples as they are the most consumed fruit in European countries and a rich source of phytochemicals.'

These are naturally occurring plant substances thought to have potent anti-cancer properties.

The fruits are high in flavonoids, compounds that are thought to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease

Researchers said the strongest evidence was for lung cancer, where the majority of studies pointed to apples having a protective effect.

In other cancer types - such as digestive tract tumours affecting mainly the stomach or oesophagus - some but not all the studies covered found they lowered the risk, in some cases by up to half.

Nevertheless, scientists concluded apples are one of the most powerful dietary weapons against life-threatening tumours.

In a report on the results they said: 'This provides convincing evidence of the protective ability of apples against lung, bowel, mouth, digestive tract and breast cancers.

'But more studies will be needed to clarify the effects in other anatomical sites.'

A review of more than 40 previous studies investigating diet and cancer found that the biggest benefits were seen in cancers of the stomach and oesophagus, with some data suggesting apples nearly halved tumour risk.

A healthy diet that includes lots of fruit and vegetables has long been thought to have a protective effect against many types of cancer. But there has been little evidence to show which fruits are best

The scientists, from the University of Perugia in Italy, found that lung tumour rates among apple lovers were about 25 per cent lower while breast cancer cases were cut by a fifth.

In a report on their results, they said: ‘This provides convincing evidence of the protective ability of apples against lung, bowel, mouth, digestive tract and breast cancers. But more studies will be needed to clarify the effects in other anatomical sites.’

A healthy diet including fruit and vegetables has long been thought to have a protective effect against many types of cancer. But there has been little evidence on which confer the most benefit.

The researchers, whose results are published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, said: ‘Our interest was attracted by apples as they are the most consumed fruit in European countries and a rich source of phytochemicals.’

These are naturally occurring plant substances thought to have potent anti-cancer properties.