Pomegranate juice may help beat prostate cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Patients who drank pomegranate juice after surgery reduced the rate of increase of prostate specific antigen.
After surgery or radiation for prostate cancer, it is usual to keep checking on a man's prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, as this is a marker which may signify recurrence. A study from the Johnsson Cancer Center now reveals that pomegranate juice, which is promoted for its health giving properties, may be able to hold back PSA increase.

In a group of men who took pomegranate juice after surgery or radiation treatment, PSA levels doubled much more slowly than they did before they began drinking the juice. Further experiments showed that the juice has strong antioxidant characteristics, and the investigators believe it may be damping down some of the inflammation that is thought to be involved in prostate cancer. Of course, it is important no-one believes pomegranate juice can actually cure prostate cancer because of this study. But clearly the role of this, and maybe other, fruits in helping recovery from prostate cancer needs further research.

Source
Clinical Cancer Research July 2006

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