Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death in men. The disease process is thought to be due in part to oxidative damage to the prostate gland over the life span. This is supported by the fact that most men undergo age specific changes to the prostate gland including developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by the age of 80 years.
Previous evidence has supported the use of antioxidants to decrease prostate cancer risk. This effect was seen most widely in men who were smokers. The relationship of supplementation to dietary intake has not been fully established.
The February (2006) issue of Journal of National Cancer Institute published information relating supplementation of Vitamin E and beta-carotene, two strong antioxidants, and the risk of prostate cancer. The participants were from the Prostate, Lung Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial.
A total of 26,361 men were included in the study, which documented dietary and supplemental intake of antioxidants using a questionnaire and then included follow up for 8 years. A total of 1338 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer during the follow up period.
The researchers found that supplementation with Vitamin E was beneficial only for men who smoked. Smoking cigarettes definitely increases the oxidative damage to the body by the generation of free radicals. Men who smoked cigarettes and also supplemented with greater than 400 IU of Vitamin E daily had a 2/3 decrease in prostate cancer risk. The overall risk was 492 per 100,000 men who smoked compared to 153 per 100,000 men who smoked and took Vitamin E.
They also found that men who had low intakes of beta carotene from the diet, but supplemented with greater than 2000mcg/day had a decrease in prostate cancer risk. The benefit was an almost 50% reduction in rate. Men with low intake of beta carotene had a risk of 1122 per 100,000 compared with 623 per 100,000 in men who supplemented with beta carotene.
Posted by Kristopher Foster on May 6, 2006 07:38 PM
