Studies provided little evidence to date for the prevention of prostate cancer. As a recommendation, the prevention of cancer remains generally with a healthy lifestyle and a balanced, best Mediterranean and Asian fare
To protect against prostate cancer, there are several approaches: Avoiding risk factors that lifestyle changes, including diet, the additional intake of dietary supplements (supplements) and the precautionary taking medication.
The main risk factors for prostate cancer age and a family history (see valid causes of prostate cancer ). You can not influence, in contrast to other factors such as environmental influences, lifestyle and diet. These seem to have not much to do with the development of prostate cancer, but its development can be carried from a latent (hidden) tumor that has no influence on the life expectancy of a manifest, that is clinically have become apparent tumor (see also formation and forms of prostate cancer ).
In countless studies individual nutrients, pharmaceuticals, components of lifestyle and environmental factors were examined to determine whether they are suitable for the prevention of prostate cancer, or even increase the risk. The nutrients supply to the part in the form of food and partly by preparations for dietary supplements, which generally involve so a hazard of overdose and poisoning such as drugs took place.
The sometimes quite contradictory results are summarized briefly below. One should keep in mind that can not be the individual risk of a man for prostate cancer accurately determine. In addition, a certain measure could indeed be useful for the prevention of prostate cancer, but the risk of other malignant tumors increase or other serious diseases (eg the cardiovascular system). This is all the more serious because it is so healthy men who take these measures in order to maintain their health in the long run.
Selenium: organ meats, mushrooms, nuts and wheat
The trace element selenium (Se) protects in combination with certain enzymes important compounds in the body from oxidation by free oxygen radicals, ie before the injury by dangerous oxygen compounds. The best sources are organ meats (kidney), mushrooms, nuts (especially Brazil nuts), wheat (whole-grain, bran, germ), fish and meat.
Until some years ago, it was assumed that both selenium-containing foods and the intake of selenium likely reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Recent studies suggest that it in blood and tissue initially decreases with increasing selenium levels and then rises again. According to the oft-quoted SELECT trial (see also below in vitamin E) increases it at a slightly additional revenue to, as well as the risk of diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), which was a reason for the termination of this investigation. Overall the studies so far provide no justification for a recommendation on intake of selenium for the prevention of cancer.
Vitamin D: Cod liver oil and fish
Vitamin D is essential for the metabolism of calcium and thus the bone. The largest part of the demand can produce under the influence of UV light even the man in the skin. A part must be supplied in the diet, especially in winter: the highest content have cod liver oil and oily fish (eel, herring, sardines), good sources are mushrooms, milk and dairy products, while only traces found in plants.
There is evidence that prostate cancer risk decreases with increasing vitamin D levels.However, an artificial feeding appears to have no effect (more vitamin D see also below for milk and UV radiation).
Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, nuts and flaxseed
Also, vitamin E protects cells from oxidative damage and therefore is one of the antioxidants. It is used primarily in vegetable oils (wheat germ oil, sunflower oil), flaxseed, nuts and margarine before, but hardly in vegetables, fruits, grains, meat and fish.
Years was that the additional intake of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) protects against prostate cancer, at least in smokers. Later, this result of the ATBC study turned out to be wrong, and after the SELECT trial is in fact the opposite is the case: Concomitant administration of selenium (see above) increases the risk slightly, without selenium, however, significantly so that canceled this study been. Taking vitamin E also does not bend well before against other forms of cancer and may increase the risk for heart failure (heart failure) and stroke.
Vitamin C: acerola and rose hips
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can be very easily oxidized, so it is often added to foods as an antioxidant. It takes part in many metabolic processes, as well as free radical scavengers. By far the most vitamin C include fresh acerola cherries and rosehips. Thereafter, fresh vegetables and fruits follow as sea buckthorn (juice), black currants, parsley, peppers and broccoli, while citrus fruits are only in the lower midfield.
Contrary to previous assumptions, protects vitamin C will probably not against prostate cancer, ahead of other forms of cancer. But it is also not aware of dangers of overdosing.
Beta carotene: mint and carrots
In the body, the counting of the carotenoids beta-carotene is cleaved in part to vitamin A, which is why it is also called provitamin A. Besides, it is a potent antioxidant and has other important effects. It stains fruit, vegetables and cereals yellow to orange and is used as a dye for food. Its content is particularly high in mint, parsley, carrots, spinach, kale, broccoli and apricots.
Although beta-carotene probably has no effect on prostate cancer, to protect against other forms of cancer in the diet is recommended (for example, about 100 g of carrots, or spinach) a supply of up to 6 mg per day. The additional intake especially higher doses, however, could increase the risk of cancer. This also protected in the ATBC study, smokers not against tumors, but also increased their risk of lung cancer and its mortality.
Lycopene: Tomatoes and tomato products
Lycopene is like beta carotene (as) a carotenoid and an antioxidant. It occurs before all in tomatoes and rosehips, where there is the red color, and is used as a food dye. The content is particularly high in tomato products (juice, sauce, soup, paste, extract, ketchup).
After the majority of studies is likely to protect the supply of tomatoes and tomato products against prostate cancer, at least before tumors with low-grade (low-grade PC, see classification of prostate cancer ). The isolated intake of lycopene probably other hand, has no preventive effect against prostate cancer.
Polyphenols: green tea, soy, flax seeds and red wine
Polyphenols are secondary plant compounds (for no particular nutritional value) and occur, for example in pomegranate and green tea. Among the polyphenols include various groups of substances such as phenolic acids (eg, caffeic acid), phytoestrogens and flavonoids:
The name means phytoestrogen herbal estrogen (female sex hormone) and is due to the weak estrogen-like effect of these substances. They also act as antioxidants and include Isoflavoniode and lignans. Isoflavones (eg genistein) are found only in a few species of plants, particularly abundant in soybeans. Lignans are, however, widely used because of their lignin arises, a component of plant cell walls, and their content is particularly high in flax seeds and whole grains. Flavonoids (eg, quercetin, anthocyanins) are also often found, especially in onions, kale, celery, dark berries (including red wine) and black tea, they turn yellow, red or purple.
The high intake of polyphenols with Asian food (mainly due to soy) was often associated with the low incidence rate of prostate cancer in Asians. That polyphenols protect against prostate cancer, has not been demonstrated so far. However, there could be numerous effects on hormone metabolism and show other processes that are important for the formation and growth of malignant tumors. Among them is an inhibition of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase . This has led to the investigation of drugs with the corresponding activity (see below). However, there is also evidence that soy and soy products, the number of sperm can reduce.
Meat: Red or white?
Meat supplies the body with important nutrients like protein, vitamin B12 and iron. In the U.S. and Europe is significantly more meat consumed than in Asia, where an excessive supply already due to content of fat, especially saturated fat as unhealthy applies (see next section).
According to recent studies raise red meat (eg beef, pork, lamb, venison) and processed meats (usually red, smoked, cured, salted or otherwise preserved, eg sausage) the risk for numerous malignant tumors, especially colorectal cancer, but also for prostate cancer. Therefore, there is also to recommendations (see below). White meat (poultry, including turkey) seems not to have these disadvantages. What ingredients are responsible is still unknown. In suspected of preservatives (eg, nitrate, nitrite) and substances that arise during strong heating (eg hot frying).
Fats: Animal fats and omega-3 fatty acids
Animal fats contain mainly saturated fatty acids, unsaturated vegetable on the other hand.Unlike polyunsaturated the body can easily form unsaturated fatty acids (eg oleic acid) partially self. They are mainly found in olive oil, but also in peanut, canola and safflower oil.Polyunsaturated include linoleic acid (especially in cereal germ, safflower, canola, and soybean oil), linoleic acid (a so-called omega-3 fatty acid, especially in purslane and other green leafy vegetables such as spinach, in lentils and walnuts) and other Omega -3 fatty acids (mainly in fatty fish and fish oil).
The effects of these fatty acids are complex. So omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory, for example. A total of unsaturated fatty acids to be healthier than saturated. The relationship between fat intake and the risk of prostate cancer is controversial. Maybe polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce the risk, with linolenic acid could they also increase. Asian diet contains in any case much less animal fats and less total fat than European and North American food. Animal fats could also the risk of other malignant tumors increase (eg for cancer). Since fat has a particularly high energy density (number of calories), the consumption influences body weight greatly (see below).
Milk and milk products: calcium for bone
It is known that milk and dairy products, our main suppliers of calcium and contain other healthy nutrients (eg vitamin B12). However, with their consumption appears to increase the risk for prostate cancer.
It is still unclear due to what ingredients this effect. Much is speaking for calcium. It is important for the function of bones and muscles and therefore is considered healthy. However, a high intake reduces the activation of vitamin D (see above), which affects bone metabolism. And with a calcium-rich foods, such as occurs in the western industrialized countries, the risk for prostate cancer increases after most of the studies with the supply significantly.
UV radiation: sun, blacklight and solarium
Sunlight promotes well-being, and the ultraviolet radiation it contains the formation of vitamin D in the skin (see above). Perhaps the latter is the reason that prostate cancer is more common in northern Europe than in southern Europe sunnier (see also incidence of prostate cancer ).Thus would the UV light that is used as a black light and in solariums, protect against prostate cancer. However, it also increases the risk of skin cancer, which is why you should only conditionally suspend this radiation itself.
Movement: Sport instead of sitting
The nowadays predominantly sedentary lifestyle of residents of developed countries should offer many lifestyle diseases transport such as obesity (clear preponderance , see also the next section), diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary heart disease (coronary vasoconstriction) and osteoporosis (bone loss).
Many studies suggest that exercise and sports reduces the risk not only for these diseases, but also for various types of cancer (eg, colon cancer). This is the reason to include physical activity in the recommendations (see below). Studies on prostate cancer showed either no effect or a reduction in the risk for aggressive or advanced forms.
Body weight: BMI and unhealthy belly fat
The body weight depends mainly on the energy supply and thus in particular the fat consumption. Obesity is reflected in an increased BMI from (body mass index, increased from 25kg/qm, more in the lexicon among overweight ). It is considered a risk factor among others for diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), cardiovascular diseases and various forms of cancer (eg, colorectal cancer), especially when larger amounts of fat in the abdomen or are.Therefore, a reduction of excess weight is also part of the recommendations (see below).
For prostate cancer studies provide inconsistent results. There is some evidence that the risk increases with BMI, at least for aggressive and advanced forms. This could be explained with the fact that adipose tissue influences the hormone metabolism. The reason could also be that the tumors are not detected until later. Because with preponderance of are PSA value the prostate lower and higher than in normal weight, so that a prostate biopsy later, only with a rising PSA level is done and the cancer stove rather misses (see also in the magazine: Obesity can the diagnosis of prostate cancer delay ) .
Alcohol: Not more than in moderation
Alcohol seems to be the risk of prostate cancer not to influence, but rather that for other forms of cancer (eg, colon cancer). He has a high energy density (number of calories) and can therefore (see above) can increase the body weight. An excessive consumption can also have more serious consequences, including for the liver. Therefore, there are also recommendations for feeding (see below). The fact that a lower alcohol, for example, protects against heart disease is controversial today. Conversely, however, also could not prove that he hurts.
Smoking: Anyway unhealthy
On the role of smoking, there are conflicting results. After the ATBC study, it increases the risk of prostate cancer slightly, according to another study, it increases the risk for an advanced tumor. What is certain is that smoking causes lung cancer and can lead for example to bladder cancer, kidney cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). So you are Non smoking!
Sex life
The sex life probably has no influence on the risk of prostate cancer. According to a new (not very meaningful) study, a frequent masturbation at a young age (20-39) could increase the risk, reduce in his fifties, however.
Multivitamin supplements and other combinations
Such preparations which foods are legally speaking, contain nutrients and other substances in high concentration. Before an uncritical intake is strongly warn. Because there is a risk of serious health consequences, such as overdose, interactions with drugs or in the presence of certain individual factors (eg, risk of lung cancer by beta carotene in smokers, above).
In addition, you should note that: Even if one of the ingredients may protect against prostate cancer, another might increase the risk for another disease. In addition, the interaction of several substances according to current knowledge is not safe to predict. Under no circumstances, including the authorities in the U.S., several preparations should be taken concurrently. Please inform yourself right before the intake and let us advise you on the best of your doctor.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors and other drugs
5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5ARI) inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha reductase , which testosteroneis converted into its most effective form, dihydrotestosterone ( DHT ) in the prostate. Such an effect, the two active ingredients finasteride and dutasteride as well as extracts from fruits of saw palmetto (saw palmetto, Serenoa repens, Sabal serrulata), all of which are used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (see drugs for BPH treatment ). Also phytoestrogens (see above) inhibit this enzyme.
Because in Asians 5-alpha-reductase activity in the prostate is particularly low and they rarely suffer from prostate cancer (see also incidence of prostate cancer ), studies were performed with the inhibitors. Then a reduced intake of 5ARI the frequency for the detection of prostate cancer and its precursor ( HG-PIN ). However, there are no data on the effect on mortality. 5ARI also lower the PSA value, which could delay the diagnosis and so these results (partially) explain. In a preventive dose should be weighed carefully between the expected benefits and potential harm. Because there are healthy men who are taking the medication and therefore can also be expected adverse effects. In Germany 5ARI are not approved for the prevention of prostate cancer.
Currently, numerous other drugs are tested for their preventive effects, for example, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid ) receptor modulators (SERMs) and statins (see also in the magazine: Statins and the prevention of prostate cancer ).However, an accurate assessment is not yet possible.
Recommendations for the prevention of cancer
After the German prostate cancer guidelines advise men to be on a healthy lifestyle, including diet, physical activity and their psychosocial (emotional and social) situation. For the prevention of cancer and other diseases, the authors recommend following the guidelines of the American Cancer Society (ACS):
- Aim for a healthy weight: find the right balance between energy intake and physical activity, overweight reduce by avoiding sugar (eg cakes, ice cream, sweetened drinks), saturated fats and alcohol
- Be physically active: At least 30, better 45-60 minutes of moderate to severe exertion (eg, brisk walking or jogging) in addition to the daily activities at least five days a week
- Eat a healthy diet with an emphasis on plant products: Daily various fruit and vegetables, whole grains rather than white flour, little meat products and red meat
- Reduce your alcohol intake: Daily no more than two alcoholic drinks (24g alcohol; 1 drink = 0.33 l of 5% beer or 0.14 l 12% tartaric)
- Stay as lean as possible within the normal body weight
- Be physically active in your daily life
- Limit the intake of foods with high energy density, avoid sugary drinks
- Eat mostly plant foods
- Limit your intake of red meat, avoid processed meat
- Limit your alcohol consumption
- Limit the intake of salt, avoid moldy moldy cereals and legumes
- Try to get you necessary nutrients only through your diet (not through supplements)
- Note these recommendations after cancer
In summary seems to be no single substance capable of preventing effective against prostate cancer when it is artificially fed. In contrast, selenium, vitamin D, lycopene, phytoestrogens and polyunsaturated fatty acids in natural foods show some positive effects. Perhaps these substances act only together with other ingredients, but perhaps also other, as yet unknown substances in these foods responsible for the effect.
For the prevention of prostate cancer and other diseases a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and avoiding obesity, smoking, too much alcohol and excessive UV irradiation is recommended. The diet should be rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, as well as balanced and wholesome. That means plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, sufficient grain and fish, little meat and animal fats. Most suitable for a Mediterranean and Asian fare
Post a Comment