How Your Diet Promotes A Healthy Prostate
The Mediterranean Diet has a strong association between lowering cancer risk and preventing heart disease. This is attributed to the fact that this diet is focused on whole foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans while also focusing on healthy unsaturated fats from plants. With this style of eating, theres also an emphasis on decreasing processed or refined foods along with lowering intake of red meat or processed red meats. It allows alcohol in moderation and its focus on whole foods supports adequate fiber intake. It also allows for a wide range of foods, which means its more of a lifestyle rather than just a fad diet.
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Since this style of eating has a positive impact on cancer prevention, adopting healthy eating habits now could help prevent prostate problems down the road. Some nutrients and vitamins can have a very positive effect on the health of your prostate. Making sure youre getting the right nutrients as part of a balanced diet can play an important role in the health of your prostate.
Biomarkers Of Oxidative Stress
As shown in Table 2, LDL susceptibility to oxidation, assessed by lag time after copper-induced oxidation, and plasma MDA and HNE levels were not modified by lycopene supplementation. Similarly, no effects were observed on urinary F2-isoprostane levels in any of the supplemented groups. However, repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant effects of time only on lymphocyte DNA damage , in subjects receiving 30 mg lycopene/day. The comet assay showed a significant 8.9% decrease in comet tail lengths, indicating decreased lymphocyte DNA damage at 8 weeks versus baseline in the 30 mg/day group . Since we observed a significant effect of 30 mg lycopene supplementation in reducing DNA damage by the Comet assay, we further assessed urinary 8-OhdG, another biomarker of DNA damage in placebo and 30mg/day lycopene groups at baseline and 8 weeks. Repeated measures ANOVA further showed significant effects of time only on urinary 8-OHdG in the same group. Urinary 8-OHdG concentrations showed a significant 23% reduction at 8 weeks versus baseline with 30 mg/day lycopene supplementation, but not with placebo .
For Patients & Caregivers
Tell your healthcare providers about any dietary supplements youre taking, such as herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural or home remedies. This will help them manage your care and keep you safe.
Diets that contain fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids like lycopene can help prevent some types of cancers and heart problems. However, benefits of lycopene supplements are unclear.Lycopene is a natural pigment that is produced by plants and microorganisms. Lab experiments confirm that it acts as an antioxidant and affects the way cells grow and communicate with each other. Scientists have proposed several different mechanisms by which lycopene might fight cancer. These include stopping cancer cell growth, preventing DNA damage, and enhancing enzymes that break down cancer-causing products.
Studies in healthy elderly patients suggest that consuming lycopene or tomato juice does not stimulate the immune system. In general, diets rich in carotenoids like lycopene have been associated with decreased risk of macular degeneration, cataracts, and some types of cancers and heart problems.
- After long-term ingestion of large quantities of lycopene-rich foods like tomato products, orange skin discoloration may develop in some individuals.
- A possible interaction between high-dose lycopene and chronic alcohol consumption was shown in an animal model. Clinical relevance is not known.
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Lycopene: A Logical Supplement For Prostate Problems
Jack Challem | Apr 24, 2008
Lycopene may be the very best supplement for maintaining prostate health. Several years ago, I noticed that lycopene supplements quickly resolved my symptoms of benign prostate enlargement. Clinical studies have found that lycopene also appears to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, and may have therapeutic benefits in men with active prostate cancer.
What it is Lycopene is the antioxidant carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red color. It’s also found in watermelon and guava.
The research Few people paid attention to lycopene until Harvard University researchers published a study in 1995 showing that lycopene-rich foods, such as tomato sauces, were associated with a 35 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer. In addition to functioning as an antioxidant, lycopene also helps maintain communication between cells, an attribute that cancer cells lack. The prostate contains the highest concentration of lycopene, suggesting a biological requirement for lycopene in this organ.
How to use lycopene I favor the natural tomato-based source of lycopene because related compounds such as phytofluene and phytoene are likely to have health benefits. For maintaining health, 5 to 10 milligrams daily should be sufficient. In the treatment of prostate cancer, 30 milligrams daily seems to be the effective dose, in conjunction with other therapies. One medium-size tomato contains about 3.7 milligrams of lycopene.
Lycopene Tomato Products And Prostate Cancer Incidence: A Review And Reassessment In The Psa Screening Era
Edward L. Giovannucci
1Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
2Department of Nutrition and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
3Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Academic Editor:
Abstract
Lycopene has been proposed to protect against prostate cancer through various properties including decreased lipid oxidation, inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, and most notably potent antioxidant properties. Epidemiologic studies on the association between lycopene and prostate cancer incidence have yielded mixed results. Detection of an association has been complicated by unique epidemiologic considerations including the measurement of lycopene and its major source in the diet, tomato products, and assessment of prostate cancer incidence and progression. Understanding this association has been further challenging in the prostate-specific antigen screening era. PSA screening has increased the detection of prostate cancer, including a variety of relatively indolent cancers. This paper examines the lycopene and prostate cancer association in light of epidemiologic methodologic issues with particular emphasis on the effect of PSA screening on this association.
1. Introduction
2. Measurement of Lycopene and Tomato Products
4. Epidemiologic Studies
4.1. Clinical Trials
4.2. Prospective Dietary Studies
Abbreviations
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Lycopene Inhibits The Growth Of Normal Human Prostate Epithelial Cells In Vitro
The results were previously presented, in part, at the 8th Annual Meeting of The Oxygen Society, Research Triangle Park NC, November 1519, 2001 at the 13th International Carotenoid Symposium, Honolulu HI, January 611, 2002 and at the 2002 World Congress of the Oxygen Club of California, Santa Barbara CA, March 69, 2002 .
The Journal of Nutrition
Lycopene And Other Components
One study randomly assigned 79 men before prostatectomy to a nutritionalintervention with tomato products containing 30 mg of lycopene daily tomato products plus selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, soyisoflavones, grape/pomegranate juice, and green/black tea or a control diet for 3 weeks. There were no differences in PSA values between the intervention and control groups. However, a post hoc exploratory analysis found lower PSA values in men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer who consumed the tomato products and in men with the highest increases in lycopene levels.
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Lycopene In Plasma Bmc And Prostate
Plasma and BMC concentrations of lycopene increased in the lycopene group during supplementation to 2.9-fold of the initial value in plasma and 9.8-fold of the initial value in BMC after 6 mo . In the placebo group, BMC lycopene increased to 2.8-fold of the baseline concentration . The changes from baseline in both plasma and BMC lycopene differed between the 2 groups .
The plasma baseline lycopene concentration correlated with the baseline concentration in prostate and tended to correlate with that in BMC . Changes in the plasma lycopene concentration during the intervention were inversely related to age and the baseline concentration . The BMC lycopene concentration tended to be positively associated with age .
Plasma concentrations of other carotenoids, including -carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and -cryptoxanthin, were unaffected by supplementation with lycopene or placebo .
Prostate Cancer Nutrition And Dietary Supplements Health Professional Version
On This Page
This cancer information summary provides an overview of the use of various foods and dietary supplements for reducing the risk of developing prostate cancer or for treating prostate cancer. This summary includes the history of research, reviews of laboratory and animal studies, and results of clinical trials on the following foods or dietary supplements:
Each type of dietary supplement or food will have a dedicated section in the summary, and new topics will be added over time. Note: A separate PDQ summary on PC-SPES is also available.
Prostate cancer is the most common noncutaneous cancer affecting men in the United States. On the basis of data from 2014 to 2016, it is estimated that 11.6% of U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetimes.
Many studies suggest that complementary and alternative medicine use is common among prostate cancer patients, and the use of vitamins, supplements, and specific foods is frequently reported by these patients. For example, the Prostate CAncer Therapy Selection study was a prospective study that investigated mens decision-making processes about treatment following a diagnosis of local-stage prostate cancer. As part of this study, patients completed surveys regarding CAM use, and more than half of the respondents reported using one or more CAM therapies, with mind-body modalities and biologically based treatments being the most commonly used.
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St Century Maximum Strength Lycopene
While 21st Century Maximum Strength Lycopene is a popular source of lycopene, its tablet-based formulation means that it carries a lot more additives than a capsule.
If you dont mind tablet fillers, binders, and coloring agents, like silicon dioxide and artificial coloring agents, its dosage is solid, at 25 mg, but for purity, there are a lot better options out there.
Lycopene Extraction And Hplc Analysis
Cell pellets were resuspended in 6 mol/L guanidine hydrochloride in 20 mmol/L potassium phosphate, pH 2.3, and then extracted twice with n-hexane . Hexane layers were combined and evaporated to dryness under a stream of nitrogen. The residue was redissolved in 500 L methanol:THF and 50 L was injected into the HPLC system. Reverse-phase HPLC was carried out on a Waters Breeze System consisting of a 1525 binary pump and a 717+ autosampler with a chiller connected to a 2487 dual wavelength absorbance detector . A Waters C30 YMC Cartenoid column was used, coupled to a YMC Cartenoid S guard column . A gradient system was performed with methanol:tert-butylmethylether:water as eluent A and methanol:tert-butylmethylether:water as eluent B according to the manufacturers recommendations. The flow rate was 1 mL/min and lycopene was detected at 471 nm. Lycopene was quantified by reference to standard curves.
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How Does Lycopene Affect Prostate Cancer
Lycopene is a carotenoid, a molecule that is similar to that of vitamin A. This substance is rich in foods like tomato, and it gives its vivid color.
Some studies show how certain nutrients may protect men against this type of cancer.
For example, boron is a trace element that is known to improve prostate health .
Similarly, a recent review of clinical trials has recently shown how common it is to have natural products and foods as a source of cancer-fighting molecules .
Like many other types of cancer, prostate cancer is influenced by genetics. However, prostate cancer risk is modulated by different factors. These include oxidative stress and changes in the prostate tissue.
A recent study showed that 10 servings of tomato every week is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer by 20% in the United Kingdom.
This country has 35,000 new cases of prostate cancer every year, and 10,000 prostate cancer patients die as a result of complications or metastasis .
This is very effective if were talking about a natural product that is affordable and easy to incorporate in your diet. 10 servings of tomato are equal to 10 cups of chopped tomatoes.
However, a recent review of 26 studies found more moderate results. Researchers linked high lycopene intakes to a 9% lower likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Daily intakes of 921 mg per day appeared most beneficial.
- A significant reduction of the oxidative stress inside the cell.
Are There Any Side Effects
According to the United States food and drugs administration, lycopene is safe as no significant side effects have been reported. However, it is believed that despite the absence of any reported side effects, lycopene may still cause undesirable effects. There is, however, limited research on the side effects of lycopene.
Potential adverse effects include low blood pressure, increased risk of bleeding, and gastrointestinal issues. In addition, there have been reports of lycopenodermia .
Stop the supplement and reach out to your healthcare provider if you do not feel well after taking lycopene. Ensure that you consult a healthcare provider before you start taking lycopene supplements.
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Prostate Health: Studies Say Pollen Extract And Lycopene Are Working
Home Prostate Health: Studies Say Pollen Extract and Lycopene Are Working
As men age, most begin to experience changes in urination which can have a serious impact on quality of life. The prostate gland is located between the bladder and the penis and is an important structure in males, as it contributes important factors to seminal fluid. Benign prostate hyperplasia is a non-cancerous swelling of the prostate gland that affects the majority of men beginning in late-middle age. More than 50% of men will develop an adverse prostate health condition by the time they reach their sixties. BPH causes a number of symptoms such as frequently waking from sleep in the middle of the night to urinate, pain in the groin, painful urination, and reduced sexual function all of which can reduce the quality of life in the men who suffer from it. A number of natural substances have been touted to address the symptoms of BPH with mixed success.
One substance is a specific pollen extract called Prostaphil-2 is garnering a lot of attention in Europe as it is able to address urinary complaints for both men and women. This proprietary blend is prepared from several types of pollen sources with the main ingredient being rye pollen but it also includes pollens from timothy grass and alfalfa. The pollens are dried, purified and then mixed together in a specific ratio. The unique mixture contains vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, free-fatty acids, amino acids and naturally occurring waxes.
Better Quality Of Life With A Healthy Prostate
There are many advantages to a healthy prostate. Men with a constant urge to urinate suffer from a lack of confidence both at work and at home. The persistent need to urinate makes travel and leisure activities torture. A satisfying sex life seems a thing of the past.
Erectile dysfunction can have disastrous effects on married life and relationships. The emotional toll is sometimes too much to take and partners begin to distance themselves from each other. Prostaphytol serves to promote a healthy prostate so that sexual drive and function return to normal.
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How Does This Specific Pollen Extract Work
Prostaphil-2 has a number of unique mechanisms of action that are responsible for its wide range of benefits.
How Does Lycopene Affect Cell Proliferation
In short, we can describe two main mechanisms behind the potential of lycopene to slow down cell proliferation. They are:
- Regulation of growth factors: There are chemicals in the body that serve as signals or red flags that promote cellular growth and proliferation. When they are overactive, cells start dividing excessively, and cancer ensues.
- As shown in various studies, lycopene is capable of clearing the blood out of an insulin-like growth factor and inhibit the action of many others by blocking their signaling pathways .
- Cell cycle arrest: Cell proliferation requires preparation by the dividing cell. Transcription factors are activated, new genes are made available, and new proteins are assembled.
- That includes cyclins, transcription factor E2F, and many other enzymes. Lycopene is known to reduce the phosphorylation and activation of enzymes.
- All of these changes block the groundwork that is required for cell division and freezes cancer cells into a phase of the cell cycle .
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How To Add More Tomatoes To Your Diet
Incorporating more tomato-based recipes into your diet is simple.
There are many nutritious tomato dishes to try. For example, adding some sun-dried or fresh tomatoes to salads, eating your eggs with sliced tomatoes or salsa, and enjoying tomato-based soups are excellent ways to boost your lycopene intake.
In the summer months, you can buy fresh, local tomatoes to add to sandwiches and chop into salads.
Drinking plain tomato juice each morning is another good option. Just make sure to pick a low sodium variety.
Summary