Effects of Nutrition on Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the malignant growth of prostate gland cells and it is the third most common cause of death from cancer in men of all ages, and it is the most common cause of death from cancer in men over the age of seventy-five(ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Although prostate cancer is such a prominent issue today, there are dietary approaches that can be taken in order to reduce the risk of obtaining this disease, as well as treating it. Several studies have found that diets low in fat, high in vegetables and fruits, and avoiding excessive meat, high dairy products, calcium and high energy intake are strongly associated with decreased risk and reduction in progression of prostate cancer (Ma & Chapman, 2009).
A review of the effect of diet on prostate cancer provided an extensive list of specific foods and nutrients that have been proven by several studies to prevent and/or treat this disease, as well as a list of foods that should be avoided. Plant-based foods showed to contain elements that are most effective in preventing/treating prostate cancer. Constituents of plant-based foods include vitamin C, vitamin E, and phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids, phyto-oestrogens and isothiocyanates (Ma & Chapman, 2009). All of these have been found to possess anti-carcinogenic properties. Carotenoids, which are found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, retard cancer cell development and inhibit tumor promotion. Some have antioxidents, which binds to free radicals, and therefore reduces the damage of DNA and decreases risk of cancer. One type of carotenoid is lycopene, which is found in foods such as tomatoes and watermelon. Lycopene is believed to limit oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules; it does so by impacting insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling. IGF-1 has been found to increase the susceptibility of prostate cancer; so, if the signaling for IGF-1 has been effected, then it cannot have this negative effect. Vegetables such as
A review of the effect of diet on prostate cancer provided an extensive list of specific foods and nutrients that have been proven by several studies to prevent and/or treat this disease, as well as a list of foods that should be avoided. Plant-based foods showed to contain elements that are most effective in preventing/treating prostate cancer. Constituents of plant-based foods include vitamin C, vitamin E, and phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids, phyto-oestrogens and isothiocyanates (Ma & Chapman, 2009). All of these have been found to possess anti-carcinogenic properties. Carotenoids, which are found in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, retard cancer cell development and inhibit tumor promotion. Some have antioxidents, which binds to free radicals, and therefore reduces the damage of DNA and decreases risk of cancer. One type of carotenoid is lycopene, which is found in foods such as tomatoes and watermelon. Lycopene is believed to limit oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules; it does so by impacting insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling. IGF-1 has been found to increase the susceptibility of prostate cancer; so, if the signaling for IGF-1 has been effected, then it cannot have this negative effect. Vegetables such as