BASIC PROSTATE NUTRITION



Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a potent water-soluble antioxidant. By strengthening the
cellular matrix, vitamin C is understood to protect against the
ability of cancer cells to invade tissues. In lab studies, vitamin C
has been demonstrated to kill certain cancer cells most likley by
producing hydrogen peroxide within the cell. A 1987 study found that
vitamin C decreased the risk of prostate cancer. A second study in
1999 found a 23% decrease in the risk of prostate cancer development
from vitamin C supplementation.
Source: Wei Shen Yan Jiu. 1997;26(2):122-5
Source: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1999;8:887-892


Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a nutrient with hormonal activity having a profound
effect on calcium metabolism. Vitamin D has been shown in studies to
halt the cellular development and division of prostate cancer cells.
In fact, low blood levels of vitamin D in men correlate with increased
risk of prostate cancer incidence. Inadequate levels of natural
sunlight account for a portion of Vitamin D deficiency. ( prostate
cancer vitamin d )
Source: Cancer Metastasis Rev. 1998-99;17(4):353-60
Source: Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 1993;2:467-472
Source: J Androl. 2002;23(1):9-17

Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant with substantial benefit to
prostate health. A 1996 lung cancer study involving 29,000 male
smokers inadvertently found that those who took vitamin E had 32%
fewer new cases of prostate cancer compared to those in the study who
were given fake vitamin E. Strong evidence from a Johns Hopkins School
of Public Health study involving over 20,000 men found that higher
blood levels of the gamma form of vitamin E appeared to decrease risk
of developing prostate cancer. A recent animal study involving mice
found that vitamin E, in conjunction with other nutrients reviewed
here, "dramatically inhibits prostate cancer development and increases
the disease free survival." ( prostate cancer vitamin e)
Source: J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998;90:440-446
Source: Am J Epidemiol. 2003 Feb 15;157(4):335-44
Source: Cancer Res. 2004 Aug 15;64(16):5891-6

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
In a 1987 study, thiamin was inversely related to prostate cancer
among men 30-50 years old. That is, higher levels of thiamin were
associated with lower levels of prostate cancer development. In 1997,
another study further supported this finding.
Source: Nutr Cancer. 1987;9(2-3):123-8
Source: Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 1997;26(2):122-5

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Healthy levels of riboflavin appear to inhibit 5 alpha-reductase, the
enzyme which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT
stimulates cellular growth of the prostate gland contributing to the
the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly
referred to a prostate enlargement. In general, any nutrient that
inhibits the conversion of testosterone to DHT is considered
beneficial for prostate health.
Source: J Antibiot. 1990;43(12):1615-6
Source: J Steroid Biochem 1984;21(3):305-14

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxione)
Research has suggested that vitamin B6 reduces levels of prolactin
hormone in men. This decreases the amount of testosterone hormone that
is converted to the more active, more dangerous form called
dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is understood that this decreases the
likelihood of developing prostate problems like BPH.
Source: Altern Med Rev. 2001;6(2):167-87
Source: Prostate 1994;24(3):162-6

Magnesium
Magnesium is found in the prostate in remarkably high concentrations
relative to other body tissues. Magnesium, along with zinc, are
released into the seminal fluid produced by the male prostate. It is
understood that low levels of magnesium and zinc may lead to fertility
problems. A 2003 study found that concentrations of magnesium in
seminal fluid samples were significantly decreased in patients with
chronic prostatitis. It is conceivable that restoring proper magnesium
levels may contribute to prostate health and function.
Source: Cell Mol Biol. 2003;49 Online Pub:OL419-23

Zinc
The zinc concentration of cancerous prostate tissue has been found to
be significantly lower than that of normal prostate tissue and BPH
prostate tissue. Zinc has been found to inhibit the growth of prostate
cancer cell lines in lab studies. Men who take zinc were found in one
study to have a 45% reduction in prostate cancer risk. Zinc inhibits
the activity of prostatic 5-alpha-reductase and may inhibit prostatic
uptake of cadmium (a potential cancer-causing agent). ( prostate zinc )
Source: Altern Med Rev. 2001;6(2):167-87
Source: Int Urol Nephrol 1997;29:565-574
Source: Prostate 1999;40:200-207

Selenium
The evidence correlating low selenium levels and a higher incidence of
prostate cancer (and several others) is quite strong. A 10-year study
of the effect of selenium supplements on skin cancer prevention in
1,300 men inadvertently discovered a 63% lower incidence of prostate
cancer in those men. ( selenium prostate )
Source: J Amer Med Assc. 1996;276:1957-1963

Green Tea Catechins
A 2004 study firmly stated that green tea catechins are an effective
preventive agent to human prostate cancers. The primary active
ingredient in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. EGCG has
clearly been shown to induce apoptosis (i.e cell dealth) in human
prostate cancer cell progression by inhibiting enzyme activity
necessary for cancer growth.
Source: J Agric Food Chem. 2004;52(3):462-6

Quercetin
Quercetin is a naturally occurring flavonoid compound that can be
found in apples, onions, tea, and red wine. Through various
mechanisms, quercetin exhibits anti-cancer and anti-oxidant effects on
human prostate cancer cells.

A 2001 study in the journal Carcinogenesis found that quercetin
inhibited two prostate-specific, hormone-related tumor markers, PSA &
hK2. The study concludes that quercetin has the potential to become a
preventive agent for prostate cancer.
Published medical studies also demonstrate quercetin's value in
prostatitis.
Source: Carcinogenesis. 2001 Mar;22(3):409-14
Source: Urology. 1999 Dec;54(6):960-3

Grape Seed Extract
A 2002 study found that grape seed extract killed human prostate
cancer cells implanted into lab animals. A second study in 2004
further supported this finding. Grape seed extract inhibited the
prostate cancer's growth and blood supply causing significant
reductions in tumor volume and weight.
Source: Int J Cancer. 2004;108(5):733-40
Source: Carcinogenesis. 2002;23(11):1869-76

Citrus Bioflavonoids
A 2000 study, in collaboration with the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA), found that citrus bioflavonoids appear to have some effect
against prostate cancer. Of the 22 flavonoids studied, tangeretin and
nobiletin were found to be the most effective inhibitor of human
prostate cancer cells. Cranberry flavonoids have also been shown to
inhibit the development of human prostate cancer cells.
Source: J Agric Food Chem. 2002.50(21):5837-43
Source: J Nutr. 2004 134(6):1529-35

Soy Isoflavones
Soy isoflavones are powerful antioxidants demonstrated to inhibit
5-alpha-reductase (5AR), an enzyme implicated in prostate disease
development. In one study, men who consumed soy milk more than once
per day decreased their prostate cancer risk by 70% compared to those
men who did not consume soy milk. Lab studies have also found soy
isoflavones to inhibit the growth of prosate cancer cells.

Research suggests that soy isoflavones may inhibit prostate disease
development by stimulating your body's binding protein that keep
testosterone hormone bound. Bound testosterone exerts less hormonal
effect on the prostate gland. It is theorized that bound testosterone
reduces the amount of free testosterone being converted to
dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the more active and dangerous form of
testosterone.
Source: J Endocrinol. 1995 147(2):295-302
Source: Cancer Causes Control. 1998 9(6):553-7
Source: Br J Urol. 1998 82(4): 560-3
Source: Nutr Cancer. 1999;35(2):130-6

Inositol
Inositol, also known as phytate or phytic acid, in found primarily in
plant-based foods. Inositol is in particularly high concentrations in
legumes. Lab studies using human white blood cells have shown inositol
to enhance immune response. Similar studies have demonstrated
anti-tumor effects of inositol in prostate cancer models.
Source: Anticancer Res 1999;19:3711-3716
Source: Shamsuddin AM. IP6: Nature's Revolutionary Cancer Fighter. New
York: Kensington; 1998.

Lycopene
Lycopene is a powerful carotenoid antioxidant that has substantial
evidence linking higher lycopene intake to a lower risk of developing
prostate cancer. Lycopene is the most efficient of the carotenoid
antioxidants and is the dominant carotenoid in prostate tissue.
Tomatoes, and tomato-based foods, are excellent food sources of
lycopene. Researchers from the US National Cancer Institute found that
men with the highest levels of lycopene had a 35% lower risk of
developing prostate cancer than those in the study with the lowers
levels of lypopene. A 2004 animal study involving mice found that
lycopene, in conjunction with other nutrients reviewed here,
"dramatically inhibits prostate cancer development and increases the
disease free survival." ( lycopene prostate )
Source: J Natl Cancer Inst. 1995;87(23):1767-76
Source: Am J Epidemiol. 2002;155(11):1023-32
Source: Cancer Res. 2004;64(16):5891-6
Source: Cancer Res. 1999;59:1225-1230

Boron
Boron is a trace mineral that helps the body retain other minerals
such as calcium and magnesium. Three exciting new studies in 2004 have
all demonstrated the potential value of dietary boron in prostate
health. In one study increased dietary boron was associated with a
decrease in prostate cancer risk. In a second study, boron was found
to inhibit PSA levels in lab animals. Among those animals, PSA levels
decreased more than 80%. In the third study, boron inhibited the
development of prostate cancer cells.
Source: Oncol Rep. 2004;11(4):887-92
Source: Toxicol Pathol. 2004;32(1):73-8
Source: Cancer Lett. 2004;216(1):21-9