Dietary supplements for prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK. According to Cancer Research UK, a quarter of all new cases of male cancer are prostate cancer.

The condition is highly treatable if it is caught early. However for many men the standard treatments for prostate cancer - medication, radiation and surgery - often come with unwanted side effects.

Because of those side effects, some men wonder whether dietary supplements may be of benefit. Is it possible that remedies such as herbs and natural dietary supplements can help to treat prostate cancer? Can they act as "chemoprevention" - delaying the onset of prostate cancer or slowing down its progression? Can natural herbs and dietary supplements be used for other prostate problems? For example are there proven benefits in treating conditions such as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or enlarged prostate?

Which men are at risk for prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in UK men, after lung cancer. It is thought that virtually all men with circulating androgens (male hormones) will develop microscopic prostate tumours if they live long enough. According to Cancer Research UK, post-mortem data suggest that around half of all men in their fifties have histological (microscopic) evidence of cancer in their prostate, a figure that rises to 80% in 80 years olds. However only one in 26 men (3.8%) will die from the disease.

How does diet affect prostate cancer?

Diet may account for about one-third of cancers of the prostate, large bowel and breast. All of these cancers are more common in the Western world than in Asian countries such as Japan and China. Although cancer is influenced by both hereditary and environmental factors, studies show that Japanese men and those who eat a vegetarian diet have the lowest rates of prostate cancer. One possible explanation is the low fat content of the Asian diet. Another is that certain nutrients found in these diets may help to reduce the risk of cancer.

It’s possible but not proven that a healthy diet with plenty of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables may reduce your risk of prostate cancer. However there is no natural dietary supplement scientifically proven to treat prostate cancer.

If you've been diagnosed with prostate cancer, discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor will guide your treatment routine using the latest proven cancer treatments. Some herbs and dietary supplements for prostate cancer may be harmful when used with standard cancer treatments. So always check with your health professionals before taking any natural herb or supplement. That way you can avoid any drug-herb interactions.

What about lycopene for prostate cancer?

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant. It's found in abundance in some fruits and vegetables, particularly cooked tomatoes. Some studies suggest that people who eat diets rich in tomatoes and other fruits with a high lycopene content have lower cancer rates. For example, Canadian researchers carried out one analysis of over twenty studies to establish the role of tomato products and lycopene on the prevention of prostate cancer. They concluded: "Tomato products may play a role in the prevention of prostate cancer. However, this effect is modest and restricted to high amounts of tomato intake. Further research is needed to determine the type and quantity of tomato products with respect to their role in preventing prostate cancer."

No side effects have been observed or precautions suggested when lycopene is eaten as part of a balanced diet.