The prostate gland, located beneath the bladder and to the front of the rectum, is part of the male reproductive system. This gland contributes fluid to sperm as part of the ejaculate. The prostate is subject to various problems; it may become infected, inflamed, cancerous or enlarged. Problems with the prostate can sometimes interfere with erections or ejaculation. Getting sufficient quantities of some vitamins through diet or supplementation may help preserve prostate health.
Vitamin D
The human body can produce vitamin D on its own, provided it gets enough exposure to ultraviolet light. Sheldon Marks, M.D., author of "Prostate and Cancer: A Family Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival" notes that vitamin D is believed to thwart the progress and development of prostate cancer cells. Dr. Marks reports that men living in sunnier climates tend to have less prostate cancer than those in less sunny locales. In her book, "100 Questions and Answers About Prostate Cancer," Pamela Ellsworth, M.D., says that men with inadequate levels of vitamin D get prostate cancer more often than those with adequate levels.
According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, men between the ages of 51 and 70 years of age should get between 400 and 2000 IU of vitamin D each day. Beef liver, cheese, egg yolks, eggs from hens that have been fed vitamin D, fortified juice, fortified breakfast cereal, fortified soy beverages, fortified yogurt, mackerel, mushrooms, salmon and tuna are all rich in vitamin D.
Vitamin E
Research done in Finland seems to show that men who take vitamin E significantly reduce their risk of prostate cancer. Research specifically designed to study the impact of vitamin E supplementation on prostate health has been done since the Finnish studies. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, or SELECT, was begun in 2001, but SELECT was cut short in 2008 after researchers determined that neither selenium nor vitamin E was having any positive effect.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A may be helpful in the battle against prostate cancer. In "Prostate Cancer: A frank look at prostate cancer, including risk factors, prevention, detection, and treatment," author Eric A. Klein writes that vitamin A has been demonstrated to have an ill effect on prostate cancer cells. X.K. Zhang, who wrote the article "Vitamin A and apoptosis in prostate cancer," maintains that vitamin A is associated with the death of individual prostate cancer cells. Apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, fish, fortified cereal, liver, milk, pumpkin, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, whole eggs and winter squash are all particularly good sources of vitamin A.
Vitamin C
MayoClinic.com reports that a diet containing vegetables high in vitamin C has been linked to lower rates of prostate cancer. Broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are all rich in vitamin C. The American Dietetic Association advises men to include these foods in their normal diet as a preventative measure against prostate cancer.
References
- "Prostate and Cancer: A Family Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survival"; Sheldon Marks, M.D.; 2009
- "Prostate Cancer: A frank look at prostate cancer, including risk factors, prevention, detection, and treatment"; Eric A. Klein, M.D.; 2008
- "Endocrine Related Cancer"; Vitamin A and Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer; X. K. Zhang; Volume 9, Issue 2, 2002
- American Dietetic Association: More Evidence for Vegetables in Cancer Prevention
- MayoClinic.com: Enlarged prostate -- Does diet play a role?
- "100 Questions & Answers About Prostate Cancer, Second Edition"; Pamela Ellsworth, M.D.; 2009
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