Nearly
30,000 men were recently studied to determine the affect of
antioxidants on the rate of prostate cancer. The results did not find a
positive correlation but there are other supplements that are important.
Prostate cancer as one of the most common types of cancer in men
according to the American Cancer Society. Fortunately if caught early,
the prognosis is good. Even better than treating it, is of course,
avoiding it altogether. The search for the cause of prostate cancer is
ongoing and a recent study was recently completed.
An eight year study of 29,361 men has just been completed. The study
examined the impact of antioxidant supplements on the rate of prostate
cancer. "There has been definite interest in their use, based on a few
earlier studies that have been done" said lead researcher Richard B.
Hayes, senior investigator in the division of cancer epidemiology and
genetics at the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
Reporting in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer
Institute, Hayes' team calculated the risk of prostate cancer for
29,361 men aged 55 to 74, all of whom were participants in the
Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Screening Trial.
Some of the data that was analyzed included the amount of common
antioxidant supplements including vitamin C, beta carotene, and vitamin
E. Some of the men had been taking these supplements for many years
prior to the study.
Over the total eight year study period, 1,338 men developed prostate
cancer. The results indicate that the use of antioxidant supplements
had no positive impact on the risk for prostate cancer for most
nonsmokers. Beta carotene supplements did have a positive impact among
men that had low dietary intake of beta carotene.
Vitamin E did have a positive impact for smokers according to the research. This was consistent with previous trials.
Although the three supplements studied in this trial showed little help
in preventing prostate cancer, previous trials that examined other
supplements did show very encouraging results.
Fish oils, which contain EPA and DHA, were found to reduce prostate
cancer by 11% in men that consumed about 470 mg./day. Selenium has been
found to cut prostate cancer in half. Over five clinical trials have
supported this. It is recommended that men take a 200 micrograms of
selenium daily.
