Diet is key to avoid prostate problems

Over the past year several male friends and colleagues of mine have developed prostate problems. This led me to think just how common this disease is and how people deal with the management, and possible onset, of prostate cancer.

Tomatoes also appear to prevent prostrate cancer- Kathryn Borg

The men I refer to have all received different advice, so what is the best way to prevent prostate cancer, and given that many men live with it for years without even knowing they have it, could men be doing something constructive now, whatever their age?

Like many other cancers, prostate cancer appears to be heavily influenced by nutrition and lifestyle. Taking supplements, eating healthy food and increasing (or starting) a reasonable level of exercise can all reduce the risk of the disease and even slow down its progress if you are diagnosed with it.

Interestingly, the traditional Mediterranean diet appears to prevent prostate cancer. This diet should include high amounts of vegetables, beans, dried and fresh fruit, olive oil and cereals, but low intakes of saturated animal fats, processed red meat and dairy products. It does include, however, regular consumption of fresh fish and low alcohol intake with wine only at meals and no binge drinking.

There is no doubt that those following this type of diet are significantly less likely to develop prostate cancer compared to those who have a diet of processed food, or a typical Western diet. (Actas Urológicas Españolas 2012).

Eating fish, especially the fatty variety, is crucial. This contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and can protect against prostate cancer. The theory is they combat inflammation.

A study in Sweden over a period of 30 years followed 6,000 men. Those who didn’t eat fish, or had a low intake, showed a two- to threefold higher frequency of prostate cancer than those who ate moderate or high amounts of fish (Lancet 2001).

Other studies showed that men who ate salmon, or other fatty fish, once or twice a week, had a more than 60 per cent lower risk of having an advanced form of the disease (Clinical Cancer Research, 2001).

As a result of these and other trials there are further studies under way to monitor whether omega-3 supplements can slow down, or even reverse, the progress of prostate cancer.

Some preliminary studies have suggested that this type of supplementing with fish oil, together with a low-fat diet, can reduce the number of rapidly dividing cells in prostate cancer tissue.

Tomatoes also appear to prevent prostate cancer.

Harvard researchers found that men who ate loads of tomatoes and tomato products (such as tomato sauce on pasta, for example), reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 35 per cent. Relating to aggressive forms of prostate cancer, high tomato intakes cut the risk by more than half. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1995).

The active ingredient in tomatoes is lycopene, a potent antioxidant which is responsible for the anti-cancer effect. It is common knowledge that it is important to include tomatoes in the diet for health reasons. It has been re­ported that lycopene supplements can delay prostate cancer progression as well as reduce symptoms such as pain and urinary tract problems (Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, 2009).

I have mentioned exercise, or activity, and regular exercise is important to have a protective effect against prostate cancer. It could even help to slow the disease and improve the chances of survival in men already diagnosed with the condition.

Harvard researchers studied over 2,700 men who had been diagnosed with the disease. Over a period of 18 years they found that those who engaged in regular physical activity were significantly less likely to die from the cancer or, indeed, any other serious cancer. The types of exercise included in this study were cycling, swimming, tennis and jogging. (Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2011).

Selenium showed up as a benefit for men fighting prostate cancer during a trial of around 1,300 men with a history of skin cancer in the US.

Researchers at the University of Arizona looked at the impact of asking half of the men to supplement with selenium while the other half took a placebo. This trial lasted four and a half years, after which the study followed the participants for a further two years. While this supplementation did not show any significant reduction of skin cancer, there was a 63 per cent reduction in the risk of having prostate cancer. (Journal of the American Medical Association, 1996).

Finally, there are also study results which show a benefit from vitamin D and/or exposure to the sun. This is one aspect which should not concern the men of Malta too much.

However, if the sun is avoided totally then the active form of vitamin D known as calcitriol could be lacking. This is known to inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of the prostate cancer cells (ISRN Urology, 2011), according to research.

There is no doubt we can live on the sunny island of Malta and ensure we do not expose ourselves, at all, to the sun. However, there are instances where a sensible amount of sun exposure can benefit our health.

kathryn@maltanet.net