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This page gives only an overview of this topic. For more information see the links at the bottom of this page
The cause of prostate cancer is not yet clear and so we are unsure how to prevent it as yet. There are known risk factors, however. We know prostate cancer occurs more commonly in countries such as North America and Australia, and is least common in others such as Japan and the Mediterranean countries. This suggests diet and lifestyle may be important.
Foods and nutrients with some evidence that they protect against prostate cancer include, soy and tomato products [6] pomegranates, green tea [10], selenium, vitamin E and vitamin D. A low animal fat diet may also be protective . Drugs which reduce the availability of male hormone are being studied as preventive agents [4]}.
We do not know for sure that eating more of these foods and nutrients can prevent prostate cancer. However maintaining an active lifestyle and a diet high in fruit, vegetables and low in dairy and animal fat will have many health benefits.
Links:
US National Cancer Institute:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/prevention/prostate/patient/
American Urological Association:
http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=09&topic=39&x=18&y=16
Studies:
- Ellinger S, Ellinger J, Stehle P. Tomatoes, tomato products and lycopene in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer: do we have the evidence from intervention studies? Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2006;9(6):722-7.
- Adhami VM, Mukhtar H. Polyphenols from green tea and pomegranate for prevention of prostate cancer. Free Radic Res 2006;40(10):1095-104.
- Kantoff P. Prevention, complementary therapies, and new scientific developments in the field of prostate cancer. Rev Urol 2006;8 Suppl 2:S9-S14.
- Croker K, Ryan A, Morzenti T, et al. Delivering prostate cancer prevention messages to the public: how the National Cancer Institute (NCI) effectively spread the word about the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) results. Urol Oncol 2004;22(4):369-76.
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