Can Pomegranate Pills Fight Prostate Cancer
Study Suggests Pomegranate Pills May Help Slow Progress of the Disease
Feb. 17, 2011 — Taking a pomegranate pill a day may help slow the progression of prostate cancer, preliminary research suggests.
The study is the latest to demonstrate pomegranate’s promising antitumor effects, says study head Michael Carducci, MD, professor of oncology and urology at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes.
In 2009, other researchers reported that pomegranate juice may also prevent prostate cancer from getting worse.
The new study involved 92 men with cancer that had not spread beyond the prostate and rising PSA levels. Rising levels of PSA are a sign that prostate cancer may be getting worse.
The men took either one capsule containing 1 gram of pomegranate extract or three pomegranate capsules daily.
At the start of the study, the men’s PSA levels were doubling every 12 months. After six months of taking the capsules, it took 19 months for their PSA levels to double.
“The results were similar regardless of whether the men took one capsule or three,” Carducci tells WebMD.
However, men who took three pills daily were more likely to suffer mild to moderate diarrhea: 14% vs. 2% of those who took one pill.
Carducci credits antioxidants in the pomegranate for its anticancer effect.
The study was presented at the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
Vitamin E: Questions And Answers
In This Section
- Vitamin E and selenium.
SELECT results published in 2011 showed that men taking vitamin E alone had a 17% increase in prostate cancer risk compared with men who did not take vitamin E.
Several factors may have affected study results, including the dose of vitamin E.
Clinical trials
- In the Physicians Health Study II, men took either vitamin E supplements, vitamin C supplements, or both and were followed for about 8 years. The overall rates of prostate cancer were similar in the men who took vitamin E supplements and in those who did not. Vitamin E did not affect the number of new cases of cancer or the number of deaths from cancer.
- A 2011 study of men who took part in The Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial found that, among those who were current smokers, higher blood levels of alpha-tocopherols and gamma-tocopherols were linked with lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer. In another study of men who were current smokers or who recently stopped smoking, higher blood levels of alpha-tocopherol were linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer.
In the Physicians Health Study II and the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta Carotene Cancer Prevention Study Group, there was a higher number of strokes caused by a broken blood vessel in the brain in men who took vitamin E than in men who took a placebo.
Pomegranate Green Tea Turmeric And Broccoli May Help Fight Prostate Cancer
British researchers have scientifically proven that broccoli, turmeric, green tea and pomegranate help fight the most common cancer in men in the United States and the United Kingdom prostate cancer.
Professor Robert Thomas, who works as an oncologist at Bedford Hospital and Addenbrookes, part of Cambridge University Hospitals, and team conducted a six-month human study involving 203 adult males, all of them with prostate cancer.
The men were split into two groups:
They all took a capsule each day, with either the target ingredients or placebo. After six months, the researchers found that PSA levels were 63% lower among those taking capsules containing essence of pomegranate, turmeric, green tea and broccoli compared to those in the placebo group.
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Overview Of Cam Use In Prostate Cancer
Studies of CAM use to treat prostate cancer have shown the following:
- Men who have prostate cancer are more likely to take dietary supplements and eat certain foods than men who do not have prostate cancer.
- Men who have prostate cancer and who have healthy eating habits are more likely to take dietary supplements.
- Men who have prostate cancer use CAM treatments to help boost the immune system, improve quality of life, and lower the risk of the cancer coming back, but only half of them tell their doctors about their use of CAM.
Studies of CAM use to lower prostate cancer risk or to prevent it from coming back have shown the following:
- A study of men with a family history of prostate cancer found that over half used vitamins or other dietary supplements for prostate health or to prevent cancer.
- A study of men at a prostate cancer screening clinic found that over half took multivitamins and some took herbal supplements.
- A study of prostate cancer survivors found that up to one-third took vitamins or minerals.
See the PDQ summary on Prostate Cancer Prevention for more information on prostate cancer prevention.
The Owners Of Pom Wonderful Co
They are the makers of POM pomegranate juice they also supplied the pomegranate juice used in the study.
The problem with this is that, when people who have an interest in the studys outcome are the ones who fund it, we should look at it with a higher level of scrutiny. Thats the stance that should be taken with all studies funded by those with a stake in them.
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Vitamin D: Questions And Answers
In This Section
A persons vitamin D level is checked by measuring the amount of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the blood.
Vitamin D is made by the body when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D may also be eaten in food or taken in dietary supplements.
For information on laboratory and animal studies done using vitamin D, see the Laboratory/Animal/Preclinical Studies section of the health professional version of Prostate Cancer, Nutrition, and Dietary Supplements.
Population studies and clinical trials have been done to study the effects of vitamin D on prostate cancer. The results of these studies have been mixed. Some studies have shown a link between Vitamin D levels and prostate cancer, and others have not. There is not enough evidence to know whether vitamin D can prevent prostate cancer.
Combined studies
Population studies
Clinical trials
Modified Citrus Pectin: Questions And Answers
In This Section
Side effects that have been reported include itching, stomach upset, abdominalcramps, increased gas, and diarrhea.
The FDA has not approved the use of MCP as a treatment for cancer or any other medical condition.
MCP is available in the United States in food products and dietary supplements. The FDA does not approve dietary supplements as safe or effective. The company that makes the dietary supplements is responsible for making sure that they are safe and that the claims on the label are true and do not mislead the consumer. The way that supplements are made is not regulated by the FDA, so all batches and brands of MCP supplements may not be the same.
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Health Benefit Of Pomegranate Juice On Prostate Cancer And The Heart
BOSTON Few American men have heard of the pomegranate, and fewer still have eaten this curious-looking fruit loaded with red seeds. But new scientific findings suggest that pomegranates may one day find a place in healthful diets, reports the April 2007 issue of Harvard Mens Health Watch.
Two recent studies suggest that pomegranate juice may help fight prostate cancer. In one study, scientists grew cells from highly aggressive cases of human prostate cancer in tissue cultures. Pomegranate fruit extracts slowed the growth of the cultured cancer cells and promoted cell death. The researchers then implanted the cancer cells in mice. A group of mice that received water laced with pomegranate juice developed significantly smaller tumors than the untreated animals. In a preliminary study of men with prostate cancer, pomegranate juice lengthened patients PSA doubling time from 15 months before treatment to 54 months on the juice.
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Can Pomegranates Prevent Prostate Cancer A New Study Offers Promise
The juice of the pomegranate, say researchers at University of Wisconsin Medical School, shows major promise to combat prostate cancer the most common invasive cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men. With more than 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer expected to be diagnosed this year alone in the U.S. and the outlook poor for patients with metastatic disease, researchers are looking for new strategies to combat the disease. Earlier research at Wisconsin and elsewhere has shown that the pomegranate, a fruit native to the Middle East, is rich in anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and is effective against tumors in mouse skin. In fact, pomegranate juice has higher anti-oxidant activity than do red wine and green tea, both of which appear promising as anti-cancer agents.
The UW research team aimed to find out if the extract from pomegranates would not only kill existing cancer, but help prevent cancer from starting or progressing. Using human prostate cancer cells, the team first evaluated the fruit extracts effect, at various doses, on those cells cultured in laboratory dishes. They found a dose-dependent effect in other words, the higher the dose of pomegranate extract the cells received, the more cells died.
The next step in the evaluation of pomegranates for cancer prevention and treatment is to conduct tests in humans, according to Mukhtar.
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Pomegranate Juice: A Cure For Prostate Cancer
Is it true that pomegranate juice may slow the growth of prostate cancer? How much should I drink?
Some research suggests that drinking pomegranate juice may slow the progression of prostate cancer.
For example, in a study of men with recurrent prostate cancer and rising prostate-specific antigen levels, researchers found that taking pomegranate juice extract significantly slowed the rate at which PSA was rising . A longer PSA doubling time can indicate that the cancer may be progressing less rapidly.
But this study did not use a control or placebo group. Nor did it measure overall survival.
Another study found that the length of time it took for PSA to double after surgery or radiation for prostate cancer was significantly longer in men who drank 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily for up to two years. Other studies have found that certain compounds in pomegranate juice inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells in the laboratory.
Although these results are encouraging, theyre only preliminary. Several additional clinical trials are underway, and its too early to say if pomegranate juice can definitely slow the growth of prostate cancer. Its also unclear whether drinking pomegranate juice alters the course of prostate cancer overall so that men live longer or better.
Dairy Foods And Calcium
Some research has shown that men who have a diet high in calcium may have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. But other studies haven’t found a link.
This means that the evidence that diets high in calcium can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer is limited.
You should eat a healthy balanced diet that includes adequate amounts of calcium. Calcium is important for our bodies. It helps keep our bones strong and healthy and our muscles working.
Adults need 700 mg of calcium each day. Most people can get this amount from a balanced healthy diet. Good sources of calcium include dairy foods such as:
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To Learn More About Cam
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the National Institutes of Health facilitates research and evaluation of complementary and alternative practices, and provides information about a variety of approaches to health professionals and the public.
- NCCIH Clearinghouse
Pomegranate: Questions And Answers
The pomegranate is a fruit grown in Asia and in the Mediterranean, East Indies, Africa, and the United States. Pomegranate has been used as medicine for hundreds of years.
The pomegranate is made up of the following:
Pomegranate fruit and juice may be taken as food, drink, or a dietary supplement.
For information on laboratory and animal studies done using pomegranate, see the Laboratory/Animal/Preclinical Studies section of the health professional version of Prostate Cancer, Nutrition, and Dietary Supplements.
In a 2015 study, 183 men with recurrentprostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive either pomegranate juice, pomegranate extract, or a placebo. The study found no difference in how fast the prostate-specific antigen level rose between the 3 groups. There is not enough evidence to know whether pomegranate can prevent or treat prostate cancer.
No serious side effects have been reported from the use of pomegranate.
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Pomegranate Juice In Treating Patients With Recurrent Prostate Cancer
| The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
| First Posted : May 7, 2003Last Update Posted : June 4, 2021 |
RATIONALE: Pomegranate juice may contain substances that decrease or slow the rise of prostate-specific antigen levels and may be effective in delaying or preventing recurrent prostate cancer.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well pomegranate juice works in decreasing or slowing the rise of PSA levels in patients who have undergone radiation therapy or surgery for prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVES:
- Determine whether pomegranate juice can decrease or slow rising prostate-specific antigen levels in patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
OUTLINE: Patients receive oral pomegranate juice once daily. Treatment continues for 18 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 29-40 patients will be accrued for this study.
| Study Type : |
| Phase II Study Evaluating Pomegranate Juice In Patients With Recurrent Adenocarcinoma Of The Prostate |
| Actual Study Start Date : |
Lycopene: Questions And Answers
Lycopene is a carotenoid . It mixes with or dissolves in fats. Lycopene protects plants from light-related stress and helps them use the energy of the sun to make nutrients. Lycopene is found in fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, apricots, guavas, and watermelons.
The main source of lycopene in the United States is tomato-based products. Lycopene is easier for the body to use when it is eaten in processed tomato products like tomato paste and tomato puree than in raw tomatoes.
Lycopene has been studied for its role in the prevention of heart and blood vessel disease.
Lycopene may be eaten in food or taken in dietary supplements.
For information on laboratory and animal studies done using lycopene, see the Laboratory/Animal/Preclinical Studies section of the health professional version of Prostate Cancer, Nutrition, and Dietary Supplements.
Population studies and clinical trials have been done to find out if lycopene can prevent or treat prostate cancer. Clinical trials have shown mixed results some studies have shown a lower risk of prostate cancer or a decrease in prostate-specific antigen level, and others have not. There is not enough evidence to know whether lycopene can prevent or treat prostate cancer.
Population and combined studies
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Pomegranate And Head And Neck Cancer
Head and neck cancers are one of the prevalent type of cancer which usually includes squamous cell carcinomas found in the epithelial cells of the pharynx, larynx and the oral cavity . Due to the underdeveloped methods of screening of the disease, the chances of predicting the cancer at an early stage is less. This condition further leads to the increase in number of people who are diagnosed at a late stage of disease progression. In the current scenario, the treatment strategy of the disease mainly involves chemoradiation and surgery. The therapeutic approach to head and neck cancer comes with the common side effects of mucositis and dermatitis. Pomegranate extracts were studied for its protective effect in ameliorating the side effects of the treatment. In the clinical setup of a cohort containing patients with head and neck cancer, it was found that the extracts reduced the extend of damage caused by radiation induced dermatitis as well as mucositis .