The same compound that gives chili peppers their spicy kick may benefit prostate cancer patients. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a compound that research shows facilitates the death of prostate cancer cells. Speak to your doctor or healthcare provider about chili peppers and capsaicin if you have prostate cancer or if you are at risk of developing the condition.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin, or capsicum as it is sometimes called, is the compound that gives chili peppers their heat. Traditional medicine and alternative medicine use the capsaicin in chili peppers to treat a variety of chronic diseases, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center, including osteoarthritis and diabetic complications.
Antiproliferative Effect
The capsaicin in chili peppers demonstrates the ability to arrest the growth of prostate cancer cells in laboratory studies. Researchers from the University of California and the Keio University School of Medicine in Japan studied prostate cancer cell lines treated with capsaicin. The researchers learned that capsaicin significantly inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells, and it also suppressed the expression of inflammatory proteins such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha. The results of this research were published in March 2006 in the journal "Cancer Research."
PSA Stabilization
PSA, or prostate-specific androgen, is a protein secreted by the prostate gland. In men with prostate problems, the levels of PSA tend to be very high; doctors typically monitor PSA levels to indicate the presence and activity of a tumor. According to recent research, chili peppers stabilize PSA levels. Canadian researchers from the University of British Columbia examined the case of a prostate cancer patient who ingested chili sauce twice a week and maintained a stable PSA reading for a year while supplementing chili sauce. The results of this case were published in the February 2010 issue of the "Canadian Urological Association Journal."
Caveat
While the capsaicin in chili peppers shows promise as a potential treatment for prostate cancer, the research to prove this claim remains preliminary, largely because human studies are lacking. Whether you should supplement with the capsaicin found in chili peppers for prostate cancer is something you need to decide with your doctor. Seek medical clearance before you ingest chili peppers if you have prostate cancer, and speak to your doctor about the possible benefits of chili peppers if your PSA levels are high.
References
- NYU Langone Medical Center; Cayenne; June 2011
- "Cancer Research"; Capsaicin, a Component of Red Peppers, Inhibits the Growth of Androgen-Independent, p53 Mutant Prostate Cancer Cells; Akio Mori, et al.; March 2006
- EurekAlert; Pepper Component Hot Enough to Trigger Suicide in Prostate Cancer Cells; March 2006
- National Cancer Institute; Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test; March 2009
- "Canadian Urological Association Journal"; Capsaicin May Slow PSA Doubling Time: Case Report and Literature Review; B. Jankovic, et al.; February 2010
