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Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), Green Tea and Soy Protein
(March 2006)
In the parlance of the stock market, these would presently
be best considered “weak buys” on the basis of mixed, limited,
insufficient or conflicting evidence that their consumption is beneficial.
Initial encouraging findings in the vitamin E/beta-carotene
cancer prevention study at first suggested a 30%-40% decrease of prostate
cancer incidence, but this benefit reverted to null over time. Currently
there is insufficient support to recommend 400 IU supplemental vitamin E,
although there is a suggestion that this vitamin may act synergistically
with lycopene and selenium.
Considerable in vitro studies demonstrate that the
ingredient polyphenols found in green tea are inhibitory against prostate
cells, but human studies are too limited. One intriguing recent study in
Cancer Research, Jan 2006, showed that in a small comparative trial green
tea significantly reduced the progression of HG-PIN to overt cancer.
For soy protein - the principal ingredient of which is the
phytoestrogen genistein - evidence in human studies is limited, although
the low incidence of clinical prostate cancer in Asia, where soy intake is
high, keeps research interest in this nutrient.
CONTRAINDICATED: Calcium
intake over 2000 mg/day, zinc supplementation > 100 mg/day, and alpha-linolenic
(ALA) supplementation.
MY PERSONAL FAVORITE:
Evidence for a 6% reduction of prostate cancer incidence from each glass
of red wine per day (Int J Cancer 113:2005) - as if encouragement were
needed.
And, by the way, don’t forget to eat your veggies,
especially the “cruciferous” ones - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and
the sulforaphane containing Brussels sprouts - and exercise daily.
Have a good day!
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