prostate news
Pomegranate Juice Prevents Prostate Cancer
July 3, 2006 -- This year, an estimated 232,090 men will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. A new study reveals a preventative measure for fighting prostate cancer may already be in your refrigerator.
According to a three-year study by researchers at Jonsson Cancer Center at UCLA, drinking an eight-ounce glass of pomegranate juice daily can keep PSA levels stable up to four-times longer than normal. PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, are biomarkers that indicate the presence of cancer. So, can a glass a day keep the cancer at bay? Researchers are saying yes. While pomegranate juice is not a cure for prostate cancer, it can delay the growth of future cancer.
Dr. Allan Pantuck, M.D., professor of urology at UCLA, reports, "We don't know if it's one magic bullet or the combination of everything we know is in the juice. My guess is that it's probably a combination of elements, rather than a single component."
Pomegranate juice is a major source of antioxidants and is also known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. It also contains ellagic acid, poly-phenols, or natural antioxidants, and isoflavones commonly found in soy. All of these factors prevent cancer by supporting antioxidation and gene-nutrient interactions.
This study involved 50 men who had already undergone surgery or radiation for prostate cancer but had quickly experienced increases in PSA. Researchers measured "doubling time" to track results. Doubling time is indicative of how long it takes for PSA levels to double, a clear sign of cancer progression. Of the 50 men enrolled, more than 80 percent experienced improvement in doubling times.
"Doubling time is crucial in prostate cancer, because patients who have short doubling times are more likely to die from their cancer," reports Dr. Pantuck. None of the men experienced side effects.
SOURCE: Clinical Cancer Research, 2006: 12(13):4018-4026.
my shopping cart
search
seekwellness members
not a member yet?
sign up here
 | We comply with the HONcode standard for health trustworthy information: verify here. |
