Cancer of the prostate, a male reproductive gland, is the third most common cause of cancer-related death among men, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Gout, one of the most painful forms of arthritis, most often strikes men between ages 40 and 50. While neither disease is caused by particular foods, healthy dietary changes may guard against their development or help manage symptoms once they arise. When consumed appropriately, eggs may suit a prostate cancer and gout-friendly diet.
Potential Benefits
One egg provides 6 g of protein, which supports strong immune function and lean tissue growth and repair. Eggs are also valuable sources of some nutrients, according to Harvard Health Publications, including the antioxidant lutein, some healthy fat and the B-vitamin choline. Eggs are low in purines -- substances that stimulate uric acid production. Eating eggs in place of high-purine foods, such as organ meats, oily fish and seafood, may lead to lower uric acid levels, reducing your risk for gout pain.
Potential Risks
One egg yolk contains 212 mg of cholesterol -- a rich amount compared to other foods -- and about 7 percent of the daily recommended maximum of saturated fat. Saturated fat is an inflammatory fat-form, meaning it may increase swelling and pain in your body, and may increase your cholesterol levels and heart disease risks. Animal products, including eggs, contain enough fat to harbor cancer-causing substances and stimulate production of cancer-promoting hormones in your body, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Research
In a study published in "Infectious Agents and Cancer" in Feb. 2009, researchers analyzed the dietary habits and prostate cancer risk for men age 40 and older in two rural and two urban communities in Southern Nigeria. Although eggs are not a stable in typical Nigerian diets, a significant link was found between high egg and meat intake and in increased risk for prostate cancer. Another study conducted in 2004 by Hyon K. Choi, M.D., a rheumatologist at Harvard Medical School, involving 47,150 men showed that a high-purine, meat or seafood-rich diet can increase a male's risk for gout by 40 to 50 percent. A diet rich in vegetables and low-fat dairy products, on the other hand, was associated with a reduced risk for gout. As low-purine foods, eggs were not targeted by the study.
Suggestions
To lower your risk for prostate cancer, the UMMC recommends an antioxidant-rich diet, limited in saturated fat, and abundant in fish. Top sources of antioxidants, which may also support prostate cancer recovery, include tomatoes, broccoli, kale, berries, citrus fruits and squash. To cut back on saturated fat and cholesterol, eat more egg whites and fewer yolks. Other nutritious protein sources, which may also ward off gout flareups, include beans, lentils, fish and low-fat milk and yogurt. For improved appetite control, nutrient intake and digestive health, choose whole grains, such as oats, barley and brown rice, instead of refined foods, such as white bread, instant pasta and low-fiber cereals.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Prostate Cancer
- Johns Hopkins Medicine: Gout and Diet
- Harvard Health Publications: Egg Nutrition and Heart Disease
- Boston University Medical Campus: Table of Purine Content
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: Milk and Prostate Cancer: The Evidence Mounts
- "Infectious Agents and Cancer"; Association of Self-Reported Consumption of cooked Meat, Fish, Seafood and Eggs with Prostate Cancer Risk Among Nigerians; Flora A Ukoli et al.; Feb. 2009
