Over 217,000 American men were diagnosed with cancer of the prostate in 2010, according to the National Cancer Institute, and millions more suffer from other prostate diseases. Since diet and lifestyle may be contributing factors, many supplements marketed at improving prostate health are sold in stores and over the Internet. One potential prostate-protecting addition to your diet may be none other than the humble cranberry, an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamin C.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
A majority of men develop an enlarged prostate as they age, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, which results in increased frequency of urination and reduced flow. A study by scientists in the Czech Republic published in the August 2010 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition" looked into the effects of cranberries on this common complaint. Forty-one men were given 1,500 mg of cranberry extracts daily for six months. After the study period, the subjects were assessed with the International Prostate Symptom Score, and they showed significant improvement in rate of urine flow, average flow, total volume, post-void residual urine volume and lower total PSA levels.
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis
Chronic bacterial prostatitis, or CBP, is a swelling and inflammation of your prostate gland that usually develops slowly and continues over a period of time. Researchers in Korea published a study in the "Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy" in November 2010 that tested the effectiveness of cranberry on rats with CBP. After four weeks of treatment, the rats showed significantly reduced bacterial growth and prostatic inflammation when compared with the control group.
Prostate Cancer
Many different studies have determined that if you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, it may help prevent various cancers due to the tumor-fighting phytochemicals the plants contain. One study, published in "Nutrition and Cancer" in January 2011, tested cranberries in vitro in the lab on a prostate cancer cell line. The cranberries were shown to be very effective at inducing the death of the cancer cells, due at least in part to the caspase-8 and caspase-9 enzymes in the cranberries.
Considerations
Cranberry is considered safe with no major side effects, although the acid content in cranberry juice may make symptoms of reflux worse in some patients. Cranberry does contain high levels of oxalate, chemicals that can increase the risk of kidney stones. Cranberry may also interfere with the effects of blood-thinning drugs like Plavix and Coumadin. Check with your doctor before consuming large amounts of cranberry juice.
References
- National Cancer Institute: SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Prostate
- "British Journal of Nutrition"; The Effectiveness of Dried Cranberries (Vaccinium Macrocarpon) in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Ales Vidlar, et al.; August 2010
- "Nutrition and Cancer"; North American Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon) Stimulates Apoptotic Pathways in Du145 Human Prostate Cancer Cells in Vitro; M.A. MacLean, et al.; January 2011
- "Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy"; Do Escherichia Coli Extract and Cranberry Exert Preventive Effects on Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis?; S.H. Kim, et al.; November 2010
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