While the idea of prostate cancer supplements may sound promising, it is important to understand their mechanics and effectiveness. Here we examine some facts about prostate cancer and myths about popular supplements related to it like vitamin E.
Do prostate cancer vitamins work?
Lead researcher Richard Baber, from Queen Mary, University of London, carried out trials to find out whether adding vitamin C to red wine improved survival rates among prostate cancer patients. He included men in the University College London Centre for Suspected Prostatic Discharge. The results suggest that wine reception was correlated with a decline in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) — a cancer marker. This further investigation demonstrated “an association between vitamin C or alcohol intake and PSA reduction in men consuming these substances long-term,” says Clarke. “Safer and better-controlled medications are now available, but patient trust in alternative therapies can still improve survival beyond commonly acceptable limits.”
In one of the few studies meeting these criteria, using total prostatectomy specimens, the researchers found a three-fold drop from the baseline level in alpha-carotene levels in tumour tissue, relative to histological grade of PCa. They attributed any apparent beneficial effects to carotenoids in shrimp (which was shown in another study to increase 3,7,11,-trimethyl-2-(all-trans-hexadecenyl)-2,3,4,5,7,9,10,12,13,20,- undecapentaenoic acid) or in dietary substance information, or to equol—an antioxidant phenol present in rice bran oil—because adenovirus infections induce tumorigenicity in PCa cells through hyperinduction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). A number of persistent questions remain, including which is beneficial for patients: COX-1 (succinylierung) or COX-2 – only or both – fundamentally free radical generation? Alternatively, can hydroxy radicals intervene between EGN and stem–prostate complex in potentiating its bioprotective capacity for the suit and simultaneously enhance oxidative stress that perturb undesirable epigenetic events? The researchers have also shown that formula 1 administration can reduce PSA in individual PCa patients by 50%, with 57% said average reduction. Interestingly, obese individuals offered formula 4 experienced the biggest mean serum reduction in PSA. However, formula 2 was more effective in lowering serum testosterone to normal levels. With prostate volume reduction combined with an aggressive lifestyle intervention program, 6 out of 7 patients who were resistant to neoadjuvant radiation therapy remained in remission at 10 years after treatment.