Another Blow for Lycopene and Prostate Cancer

Robert W. Griffith, MD

Last May I reported that lycopene (the tomato constituent) doesn't seem to prevent prostate cancer. Now there's another report - this time from Oxford, UK - that 10 micronutrients examined in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study also have no protective action. (A micronutrient is a substance, such as a vitamin or mineral, that's essential in very small amounts for proper growth and metabolism.) The report appears in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The micronutrients studied were: alpha- and beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthine, beta-cryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin, retinol, alpha- and beta-tocopherol. The plasma levels of these substances were compared in almost 1000 new cases of prostate cancer and as many matched control men who had not developed cancer. After adjustments for smoking, alcohol, BMI, and other risk factors for the disease, there were no links between the blood levels of any of the 10 substances and the development of prostate cancer.

On the other hand, men with high levels of lycopene or all the carotenoids taken together had a lower risk of being diagnosed with advanced cancer. To my mind, this might explain the earliest studies suggesting a protective effect of lycopene: the ability to diagnose prostate cancer has sharpened a lot in recent years, so that, if lycopene was slowing the advancement of cancers (which would be more readily diagnosed), this might be interpreted as a protective action.

Anyway, no need to take vitamins and supplements if you are eating right. Just have your regular check-ups.

Source
HealthandAge Blog

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