The ingestion of plant-based antioxidant compounds is commonly associated with a lower incidence of prostate cancer in Asian countries, compared with the higher incidence of this disease in the United States. While there are many foods that help fight prostate cancer, the data are severely limited. Dangerous adverse reactions may exist, and dietary compounds should never be ingested as an alternative treatment to orthodox cancer treatment methods, such as chemotherapy, without first consulting a doctor.
Lycopene
Lycopene is a small carotenoid compound found largely in tomatoes. Lycopene, in normal cells, can sequester the damaging effects of oxidative molecules, inhibiting unwanted mutations that can lead to cancer. Additionally, in prostate cancer, lycopene can effectively inhibit cell growth. A three week intervention with a tomato-based diet in prostate cancer patients caused an increase in tumor cell death; however, in other studies, lycopene exhibited little actual effect in prostate cancer treatment and prevention. More research is necessary.
Silibinin
Silibinin is a highly active antioxidant polyphenolic compound found in milk thistle (Silybum Adans) seeds. Although human clinical trials are limited, animal studies show that silibinin effectively decreases prostate cancer growth and progression, possibly warranting future human studies. The mechanism of action of silibinin is thought to work, in part, through the regulation of cell growth proteins, including the inhibition of Insulin Growth Factor-1, or IGF-1, a potent secreted prostate cancer growth factor.
Curcumin
Curcumin is the active phytochemical compound found in turmeric, a spice commonly used in curry. Curcumin acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound with roles in cancer prevention. Against human prostate cancer, curcumin can decrease cell growth, cell viability and cell motility. Curcumin also inhibits monocyte chemotactic protein-1, or MCP-1, a potent growth and motility factor of prostate cancer. Although many animal studies have shown a positive effect against prostate cancer, few clinical trials on humans have been performed.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate is a fruit rich in highly potent antioxidant compounds. Pomegranate is thought to decrease cellular growth and increase cellular death in human prostate cancer cells. Pomegranate may also inhibit important signaling cues that lead to prostate cancer metastasis -- the development of secondary tumors on other organs. A 2006 study found that pomegranate juice inhibits levels of prostate-specific antigens, or PSAs, in patients who underwent prostate cancer treatment. Decreased PSA levels often indicate a lower rate of prostate cancer progression.
References
- "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention"; Chemoprevention of Prostate Cancer through Dietary Agents: Progress and Promise; Deeba Syed et al; November 2007
- "Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases"; "Therapeutic potential of curcumin in human prostate cancer-I. curcumin induces apoptosis in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells"; T. Dorai et al; August 2000
- "International Journal of Oncology"; "Curcumin blocks CCL2-induced adhesion, motility and invasion, in part, through down-regulation of CCL2 expression and proteolytic activity"; May 2009
