Pomegranate and the Prostate
A phase II study published on July 1,2006 suggests cancer-therapeutic effects of drinking 8 oz of pomegranate juice (“Wonderful” variety, 570 mg total polyphenol gallic acid equivalents) in men with a rising PSA following initial therapy. Researchers found that the mean PSA doubling time increased significantly in the treatment group, with a concomitant 17% increase in apoptosis, 12% decrease in cell proliferation, and significant decrease in oxidation of serum lipids. These laboratory results are promising, as there are no harmful side effects from drinking pomegranate juice. As this was a Simon 2-stage clinical trial, further placebo-controlled studies are warranted. How does pomegranate juice work to improve prostate health? It is not yet completely known, but this fruit from the tree Punica granatum, possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It seems to affect the cyclin kinase inhibitor-cyclin-cdk network, causing antiproliferative effects. Different parts of the fruit seem to act synergistically in vitro against proliferation, metastatic potential and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) expression of human prostate cancer cells. Some studies suggest that pomegranate juice may have cancer-chemopreventive as well as cancer-chemotherapeutic effects . Perhaps “A glass of pomegranate juice a day keeps the prostate surgery away....”?
References:
1) Phase II Study of Pomegranate Juice for Men with Rising Prostate-Specific Antigen following Surgery or Radiation for Prostate Cancer. Pantuck AJ et al. Clin Cancer Res. Jul 1;12(13):4018-4026.
2) Sequential Treatment Assignment with Balancing for Prognostic Factors in the Controlled Clinical Trial Stuart J. Pocock, Richard Simon Biometrics, Vol. 31, No. 1 (Mar., 1975) , pp. 103-115
3) Pomegranate fruit juice for chemoprevention and chemotherapy of prostate cancer. Malik A et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Oct 11;102(41):14813-8. Epub 2005 Sep 28.
4) Possible synergistic prostate cancer suppression by anatomically discrete pomegranate fractions. Lansky EP et al. Invest New Drugs. 2005 Jan;23(1):11-20.
Theresa A. Tsingis, D.C., M.S.
Lamorinda Nutrition
89 Davis Rd, #180, Orinda, CA 94563
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