The Impacts Of Tomato And Lycopene Feeding On Chemically Induced Prostate Carcinogenesis
Initial studies examining the impact of lycopene or tomato feeding on prostate carcinogenesis utilized several rat models of chemically induced carcinogenesis . The carcinogens employed induce specific types of DNA changes such that the combination of androgens with the nitro-compound NMU causes guanine nucleotide methylation, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 3,2-dimethyl-4-amino-biphenyl causes transversion of nucleotides, and the heterocyclic amine 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenyl-imidazopyridine causes DNA adduct formation. These DNA changes cause genomic damage that initiates a cascade leading to the development of adenocarcinomas of the ventral or dorsolateral prostate, in addition to other tissue sites . Currently our knowledge regarding environmental carcinogens that might impact human prostate carcinogenesis is poor, thus the direct relevance of these compounds is uncertain, yet the DNA damage caused by these agents reflects processes common to many carcinogens. The histopathological progression of cancer in these models corresponds with the progression observed in human disease . Using these models, the effects of timing of lycopene feeding, of combining tomato and broccoli feeding, of tomato powder compared with lycopene alone, and of FruHis in tomato products on rodent prostate carcinogenesis have been examined.
Timing and duration of tomato or lycopene feeding
Direct comparison of tomato components and lycopene
Tomato combined with other foods
Canned Cooked Tomatoes Can Reduce The Risk Of Prostate Cancer
Canned, cooked tomatoes can reduce the risk of prostate cancer
Cooked tomatoes may reduce the risk of prostate cancer according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Loma Linda University Health.
Tomato Consumption and Intake of Lycopene as Predictors of the Incidence of Prostate Cancer: The Adventist Health Study-2, published in Cancer Causes and Control on Feb. 25, found that men who consumed canned and cooked tomatoes 5 to 6 times per week had a 28% decreased risk of prostate cancer compared with men who never consumed this food.
First author of the paper, Gary Fraser, MBChB, PhD, said the effect was still significant even after adjusting for a number of potential confounders, including ethnicity, education, obesity, exercise levels, alcohol consumption and others.
Interestingly, the decreased risk was only seen in those men who ate canned and cooked tomatoes, Fraser said.
To examine how tomato consumption might impact the development of prostate cancer, the researchers looked for significant relationships between diet and prostate cancer in nearly 28,000 Adventist men in the U.S.
While all tomatoes and tomato-based products contain lycopene, other studies have shown that lycopene is absorbed at different rates depending on the product consumed. Lycopene bioavailability is higher when tomatoes have been heated or cooked, and especially if cooked with oil. Processing tomatoes in this way contributes to the separation of the lycopene from the carrier proteins.
Are Tomatoes Good For You
Tomatoes are high in fiber and a good source of a variety of nutritional compounds which may benefit you, including :
- Strengthening hair
- Improving eyesight
Taking tomatoes in moderate amounts is good for you. However, taking tomatoes in excess amounts daily may not be good and can lead to increased levels of potassium resulting in hyperkalemia, which if not addressed, may result in bad/undesired outcomes such as abnormal heart rhythms. Also, according to American Cancer Society, daily consumption of more than 30 mg of lycopene present in tomatoes may have bad effects such as nausea, bloating and diarrhea.
Foods to Eat After Cancer Diagnosis!
No two cancers are the same. Go beyond the common nutrition guidelines for everyone and make personalized decisions about food and supplements with confidence.
Recommended Reading: Can Cbd Help With Prostate Problems
Tomato Benefits For Prostate Health
Tomatoes are a popular food as well as a superior source of lycopene, a phytonutrient, or more specifically a carotenoid, one of a group of yellow, orange, and red pigments found in plants. Lycopene is a potent antioxidant that has proven itself in study after study to have properties that enhance prostate health. Tomatoes are the best foods for prostate health especially when they are processed.
Although fresh tomatoes are nutritious, their lycopene antioxidant potency increases when they are processed. Processing breaks down the cell walls of tomatoes, which makes the lycopene more accessible to the body. Thus tomato paste, sauce, soup, and juice offer more antioxidant protection for the prostate than do fresh tomatoes. The results of many studies show that processed tomato products really enhance prostate health.
For example, a Brazilian study found that men with BPH who consumed 50 grams of tomato paste daily for 10 weeks had a greater than 10 percent decline in their PSA levels compared with levels before the study. Another study evaluated about 48,000 men and found that those who ate lots of tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato juice, and pizza had a 35 percent reduced risk of developing prostate cancer and a 53 percent lower risk of getting aggressive prostate cancer.
Because processed tomato products are available year round, it is easy to make them a part of your diet. Something as simple as a glass of tomato juice daily can be helpful in promoting prostate health.
The Impact Of Lycopene Tomato And Combination Treatments On Gem Models Of Prostate Carcinogenesis
Mice genetically engineered to carry the early region of the ectopic polyomavirus simian virus 40 oncogene and express the large T antigen and/or the small T antigen in the prostate have been used in a number of studies to investigate the effects of lycopene, tomato, and other agents in prostate carcinogenesis . The Tag binds and inhibits the tumor suppressors, transformation related protein 53 and RB transcriptional corepressor 1 , as well as a number of other proteins involved in transformation, resulting in the TRAMP and Lady models, respectively. Both GEMs utilize SV40 to model a number of oncogenic processes resulting from genetic damage , with SV40 expression being controlled by androgen-responsive small probasin promoter in the Lady model and by the large probasin promoter in the TRAMP model. The TRAMP model, in particular, has been used widely because of its high penetrance, well-characterized progression of time from hyperplasia to intraepithelial neoplasia, invasive carcinoma, and, ultimately metastatic progression . With time, the lesions evolve in TRAMP × FVB mice to demonstrate a high incidence of poorly differentiated carcinoma with neuroendocrine features, a phenotype primarily seen in more advanced, castrate-resistant prostate cancer in humans. Mouse genetic background impacts the cancer cascade, with TRAMP × C57Bl/6 mice showing a slower rate of progression to cancers with neuroendocrine features than FVB background mice .
Tomato combined with other foods
Recommended Reading: Prostate Cancer Dogs Life Expectancy
Foods That Support Prostate Health
- Posted On: Jun 1, 2022
Making changes to your diet may not only improve your wellbeing. It can also help reduce your risk of developing prostate problems such as prostate cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men in the United States.
There are a few theories on how your diet affects your prostate health. Some experts believe that a high-fat, high-sugar diet can increase your risk of developing prostate cancer. Some studies associate diets high in dairy and calcium with an increased risk of the disease.
As you consume less sugar, fat, and dairy, try adding more of these foods to your diet.
Broccoli
Some researchers believe broccoli produces chemicals that target and kill cancer cells. It also has lots of fiber and vitamins. Not a fan of broccoli? You can get the same benefits from cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kale. Theyre from the same species of plant but have different tastes and textures.
Adding broccoli to your diet
- Use fresh or frozen broccoli in soups, stir-frys, and other dishes
- Steam as a side dish
- Eat raw by itself or dipped in a low-fat dressing
Tomatoes
Tomatoes have a powerful antioxidant called lycopene that may help reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer. Because lycopene is bound to the cell walls of raw tomatoes, your body has trouble extracting it. Cooked or pureed tomato productslike tomato sauce and juicetypically have the most lycopene.
Adding tomatoes to your diet
Fish
> > > All Natural Technique Fixes Enlarged Prostate Watch Here< <
Surgical procedures to remove the diseased prostate are usually necessary. Surgical procedures are not always necessary. If the disease is caused by bacterial infections, a doctor can treat the symptoms using alpha-blockers or surgery. Physical therapy, relaxation exercises, and warm baths are all recommended. A physician may also prescribe antibiotics to cure the infection. A bacterial infection can also cause a recurrence of the condition.
An enlarged prostate can be uncomfortable for both men and women. Some of the symptoms of an enlarged male reproductive organ include a weakened urine stream, urgent need to urinate, and urinary tract infections. BPH can also cause damage to the kidneys. A sudden inability to urinate can be life-threatening, as it can lead to bladder and kidney damage. Unfortunately, most men with enlarged prostrates put up with the symptoms for years before they seek treatment. However, many of the men with symptoms finally decide to go to a doctor for proper gynecological evaluation and to begin enlarged prostatic therapy.
Also Check: Does Losing Weight Help Enlarged Prostate
Tomatoes For Prostate Health: Reduce Inflammation And Fight Free Radicals
While lycopene is a potent free-radical fighter, researchers have recently discovered a new way that it may protect the prostate. And like many other chronic diseases it has to do with inflammation.
In a recent study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology journal, researchers found that lycopene reduced androgens as well as inflammatory factors called cytokines -both which contribute to the growth and development of prostate cancer.
Study By University Of Illinois At Urbana
In a study published in 2018, the researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, United States evaluated the association between consumption of various types of tomato products and the risk of prostate cancer risk. Data for the study was obtained from 24,222 cases and 260,461 participants identified based on literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases till April 10, 2017.
The study found that a high consumption of tomato foods and cooked tomatoes and sauces may be associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. However, this study did not find any significant association between raw tomatoes and prostate cancer risk.
Recommended Reading: Does Incontinence Go Away After Prostate Surgery
How Our Research Was Done
All Adventist Health Study participants agree to fill out self-administered food frequency questionnaires reporting the average number of times per week they ate approximately 200 different foods and beverages, and the serving sizes. After tracking the studys male participants, all of whom were cancer-free when they enrolled in the project, we found that 1,226 of them had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 355 of those were aggressive cases.
As we focused on dietary lycopene levels, we found that men who consumed canned and cooked tomatoes five to six times a week had a 28 per cent decreased risk of prostate cancer compared with men who never consumed this food. The effect was still significant even after adjusting for potential confounders including ethnicity, education, obesity, exercise levels, alcohol consumption and others. Interestingly, we found no significant association between prostate cancer and consumption of raw tomatoes, tomato soup, tomato sauce and tomato-based vegetable juice.
While all tomatoes and tomato-based products contain lycopene, other studies have shown that lycopene is absorbed at different rates depending on the product consumed. Lycopene bioavailability is higher when tomatoes have been heated or cooked, and especially if cooked with oil. Processing tomatoes in this way contributes to the separation of the lycopene from the carrier proteins.
What Vegetables Are Good For Cancer
Cruciferous vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, can help lower risk for certain cancers, especially those of the colon, mouth, esophagus and stomach 15 minute recipe. Fresh Tomato Sauce. Homemade tomato sauce is tastier and more nutritious than store bought versions that are often packed with added sugar and salt.
Also Check: Penile Implant After Prostate Surgery
Summary Of Studies In Gem Models
Overall, the studies using TRAMP models suggest that tomato and lycopene provided for a lifelong duration can delay the carcinogenesis cascade that is driven by disruption of normal TRP53 and RB function. In a recent study, these beneficial effects are lost in the transition to castrate-resistant disease. Although more work is necessary, the hypothesis that lycopene and/or other tomato phytochemicals act via inhibition of androgen stimulation of prostate carcinogenesis is supported by the evidence. The studies suggest the potential of tomato components to enhance the benefits of other dietary factors, nutrients, or chemopreventive agents for a greater therapeutic index and, perhaps, additive or synergistic effects, yet few combinations have been examined in well-designed preclinical models. The rapid growth in development of new GEM models of prostate carcinogenesis provides many opportunities to further dissect mechanisms of action and provide much greater insight into critical doseresponse relations.
Do Nitrates Cause Cancer
Foods that are cured by use of nitrates or nitrites act as preservatives as well as adding color to the meat. Although nitrates do not cause cancer in and of themselves, under certain conditions these chemicals change once they are inside the body into N-nitroso composites. Its this N-nitroso that is associated with a greater increase the risk of developing cancers.
You May Like: How Long Does Pain Last After Prostate Surgery
Summary Analysis And Study Heterogeneity
Multivariable adjusted RRs with their CIs for each included study and for the combination of all studies are presented in Figure 2. The highest consumption of tomato products was not significantly associated with the risk of prostate cancer, compared with the lowest consumption group . There was significant heterogeneity across included studies .
Figure 2. A forest plot showing risk estimates of the association between tomato consumption and prostate cancer risk.
Five Foods To Protect Your Prostate
Good news if youre worried about your prostate health: What you eat can make a difference. There is plenty of strong evidence that good nutrition and an active lifestyle can reduce the likelihood of prostate cancer and slow its progression, says Mitchell Sokoloff M.D., Chair of the Department of Urology and Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
There are a few categorical changes you can make to your diet that make a big difference in overall health, as well as prostate health. What you eat can potentially disadvantage your prostate health e.g. foods you might want to avoid or protect the prostate in various ways. The Science of Living Well, Beyond Cancer recommends a diet that is high in colorful vegetables, low in sugar and processed carbohydrates, and moderate in animal-based protein . Some might refer to this as a version of the Mediterranean Diet. PCF-funded epidemiologist Lorelei Mucci, M.P.H., Sc.D., at Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health notes that people in Mediterranean countries not only eat more vegetables and fruits they also eat less fatty foods, processed food, and red meat categories that can increase insulin resistance, increase inflammation, raise cardiovascular risk and be a part of a dietary pattern that may increase obesity, as well.
Recommended Reading: What Happens To Prostate After Radiation
Sensitivity Analysis And Publication Bias
The influence of each study on the pooled RR was evaluated by repeating the overall analysis after omitting each study in turn. The results indicated that no single study dominated the combined RR. The 24 study-specific RRs ranged from a low of 0.83 to a high of 0.89 via omission of the study by Stram et al.20 and the study by Jian et al.11, respectively . Finally, significant publication bias was observed in Beggs test , but not in Eggers test .
Sensitivity analysis was performed whereby each study was excluded in turn and the pooled estimate recalculated to determine the influence of each study.
What About Herbal Supplements
Although some people have reported relief from bothersome BPH symptoms by using herbal supplements such as saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, pygeum, stinging nettle and rye grass pollen extract, theres really no evidence to back up their benefit. The same goes for turmeric.
Its all hypothetical, Dr. Maria says.
And supplements bought over-the-counter may even be harmful. Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so that means that anything goes as far as bringing a product to market, says Dr. Swenor. They dont have to prove whats in the supplement, and theres no standardization.
Some supplements also have medications in them and can interact with other drugs, like blood thinners, adds Dr. Maria.
For these reasons, make sure to talk to your doctor before trying any herbal supplements.
Read Also: Symptoms Of Infected Prostate Gland
Recommended Reading: Prostate Cancer And Ulcerative Colitis
Healthy Fats Cut Risk
The Harvard study involved about 4,500 men who were diagnosed with early-stage, nonmetastatic prostate cancer, meaning it had not yet spread beyond the prostate gland to other parts of the body. Researchers knew what the men ate thanks to detailed food surveys that every study participant filled out periodically.
Men who ate the most vegetable fats were less likely to develop the more lethal form of prostate cancer, compared with men with diets richer in animal fats. Most of the vegetable fats came from oils in salad dressings and nuts.
Does that mean that something in vegetable fats helped to keep the cancers in check? We cannot really answer that question based on this study, although vegetable fats do contain substances that could, hypothetically, help to keep cancer in check by suppressing cell damage and inflammation.
Another possibility is that the men benefited from what they were eating less of, which is carbohydrates. Men who replaced 10% of their total calories from carbohydrates with calories from vegetable oils were 29% less likely to die from prostate cancer over eight years of follow-up.
Does this mean that low-carb diets fight cancer? Again, we can’t be sure. The study tells us that men who eat the most vegetable fats, as opposed to animal fats and carbs, are at lower risk of developing lethal cancer. It does not tell us why.