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A Nutritional Approach to Prostate
and Colorectal Cancer
by
Thomas D. Nola, R. Ph., FASCP
Only heart disease outranks
cancer in the number of deaths each year. In women, breast
cancer is the most deadly form, followed by lung, colorectal,
endometrial and ovarian cancer. In men, prostate cancer is
the most prevalent form, followed by lung, colorectal, bladder
and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Many forms of cancer
are preventable through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.
The following are recommendations from The American Cancer
Society, to help in decreasing the risk of getting cancer:
- Don't use tobacco products.
- Drink alcohol in moderation.
- Have a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and
legumes and low in saturated fats.
- Exercise regularly.
- Avoid overexposure to the sun.
- Try to limit exposure to chemicals and pollutants.
- Avoid nitrates found in smoked, cured or salted meats.
Prostate Cancer
Almost 75% of the diagnosed
prostate cancer cases are in men over the age of 65. If detected
early, this form of cancer is considered highly curable. Approximately
60% of cases are localized when discovered. The five-year
survival rate of the patients who are diagnosed and treated
at this stage is 100%!
Diet is seen to be one
of the most important factors with relationship to this type
of cancer. A study conducted at Stanford University determined
that high intake of saturated fat was associated with the
greater risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, it has been postulated
that a diet that is low in saturated fats, and high in fruits
and vegetables, may help in preventing prostate cancer.
Out of 46 fruits and
vegetables tested, tomatoes were found to have high concentrations
of an antioxidant known as lycopene. Lycopene, a member of
the carotene family, wields antioxidant activity in the testes
and the adrenal glands and is believed to protect against
the formation of and the proliferation of tumors. In a study
involving 48,000 men, lycopene reduced the risk of prostate
cancer in 45% of the study's participants. Eating tomatoes
raw, cooked, or juiced has been noted to lower prostate cancer
risks.
Saw palmetto has shown
very promising results in the treatment of symptoms of prostate
cancer. The mechanism by which the extract of this plant helps
in the treatment of prostate cancer is unknown. It has been
noted that it might be its anti-estrogenic activity in the
prostate tissue which causes it to decrease edema and inflammation.
Nevertheless, saw palmetto has not been able to significantly
alter prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. The PSA level
is currently the most acceptable indication of prostate cancer.
In a study of 50 men
who were symptomatic, a dose of 160 mg of saw palmetto was
administered twice a day for six months. In only two months,
it was reported that symptoms had significantly improved.
There has yet to be a declaration formed by researchers that
states saw palmetto will prevent prostate cancer, but new
studies are being conducted to determine its abilities.
The trace mineral selenium
is being acclaimed for its cancer-fighting properties. This
mineral was once considered to be toxic, but new research
has found that patients who have had their diets supplemented
with this trace mineral show a reduced occurrence of cancer.
The reduction of prostate, colorectal and lung cancer was
noted to be greater than 62% in those receiving saw palmetto
in a placebo-controlled study conducted over a four-and-a-half
year period.
Colorectal Cancer
Colon cancer is the third
most common cancer in the United States, and accounts for
about 10% of all cancer deaths. The risk of colorectal cancer
is greatly increased in those who have a family history of
the disease, have inflammatory bowel disease, have a high-fat
diet, are obese, or do not consume adequate amounts of fruits
and vegetables in their daily diets.
If detected early, rectal
cancer patients have a 62% survival rate, while early diagnosis
and treatment of rectal cancer has an 82% survival rate. The
only problem is that early detection of these types of cancers
is not as prevalent as that of prostate cancer.
Incidence of colorectal
cancer is found less frequently in countries where diets are
high in fiber and low in fat. This is just the opposite of
the standard diets of the United States and many other developed
countries. For this reason, many researchers have looked to
the high fiber, low fat diets of other countries to aid in
their search to combat this disease, but study results have
not been conclusive. Therefore, researchers are now examining
fibrous plants for specific substances that contribute to
the prevention of colorectal cancer.
One such plant is flax.
The seed of the flax plant has a high mammalian lignan content,
and has been proven to be very beneficial in patients with
breast cancer. Since it is believed that both breast and colon
cancer are hormonal in nature, this dietary supplement could
be very beneficial in the prevention of colorectal cancer.
Flax seed is also believed
to be an antioxidant. Its scavenging of free radicals and
its ability to inhibit lipid pre-oxidation may be one key
to its success. This coupled with its anti-proliferation effect
on cancer cells and its ability to regulate estrogen receptors,
which are found in some cancer cells, could also add to its
benefits.
In China, green tea consumption
was monitored in thousands of colorectal cancer patients for
a period of three years. The greater the green tea consumption,
the greater the likelihood of the cancer's remission or slowing
of growth. This is believed to be due to green tea's polyphenolic
compounds that act as antioxidants. However, researchers feel
that green tea's real strength is in the protective effects
rather than its healing effects.
Recently, here in the
U.S., researchers have found some success with a new compound
called inositol hexaphosphate, otherwise known as IP-6. This
compound is found in nature in whole grain cereals such as
rice, corn, oats and wheat. It is also found in legumes such
as lentils. IP-6 was found to prevent cancer cell growth,
while shrinking existing tumors by almost 50%. Though IP-6's
actual mechanism of action is unknown at this time, it is
believed to be its antioxidant properties which slow the progression
of free radicals and inhibit cell damage.
Calcium and vitamin D
have been found to aid in the prevention of colorectal polyps.
These polyps are generally benign at first, but if they are
not taken care of early, they may become malignant. Research
has shown that calcium supplements can prevent the development
of polyps in people who have not yet experienced them, and
to slow the reoccurrence in those that have had them removed.
Since calcium has no side effects and so many benefits, such
as preventing osteoporosis, consuming supplements rich in
calcium is an effective, low-cost, preventative to help against
colorectal cancer.
The American Cancer Society
recommends that, after the age of 50, regular yearly colon
cancer screening should be done. See your practitioner to
make your appointment today.
Tom Nola is a registered
pharmacist in NC and NY. He has 25+ years' experience in preventive
health care and is a fellow of the American Society of Consultant
Pharmacists. Contact him at The Herb Shop in Wilmington, 910/452-HERB.
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