Rania Amer
Thursday, March 16, 2023 02:00 AM
Researchers from the University of South Australia revealed that men who regularly eat fruits andvegetables colored people were less likely to develop prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer (PC) is preventable with a variety of diets rich in specific micronutrients, and men who undergo radiation therapy for this condition recover more quickly.
Results, according to healthline, from two studies published in the journal Cancer, highlight the importance of a Mediterranean or Asian diet that includes these foods.
The researchers compared the plasma micronutrient concentrations of prostate cancer patients with a healthy control group, revealing lower levels of lutein, lycopene, alpha-carotene and selenium in the PC patients and higher levels of iron, sulfur and calcium in the same group, compared to controls.
Increased DNA damage after radiation exposure has also been associated with decreased lycopene and selenium in blood plasma.
Men with plasma concentrations of less than 0.25 micrograms per milliliter (mL) of lycopene and/or less than 120 micrograms/L of selenium have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer and are likely to be more sensitive to the harmful effects of radiation.
Lycopene-rich foods include tomatoes, melons, papayas, grapes, peaches, melons, and cranberries. Foods rich in selenium include white meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, and nuts.
Dr. Permal Deo, co-author of the study, says that eating foods rich in lycopene and selenium naturally is better than taking supplements, as the benefits are limited, according to previous studies.
“Our recommendation is to adopt a Mediterranean diet enlisting the help of a dietitian because people absorb nutrients in different ways, depending on the food, digestive system, person’s genotype, and possibly their microbiome,” says Dr. Dew.
Prostate cancer remains one of the most common and fatal types of cancer in men, but the nutritional deficiencies associated with it are still largely unknown, hence this study.
Other risk factors, such as race, family history, and age, have previously been linked to prostate cancer.
“There is strong evidence that being overweight and being tall increases the risk of prostate cancer. Diets high in dairy products and low in vitamin E may also increase risk, but the evidence is less clear.”
Vitamin E is found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.
