By Helen Briggs
Health editor, BBC News website
Men who consume more than 10 portions of tomatoes each week reduce
their risk by about 20%, according to a UK study. Prostate cancer is the second
most common cancer in men worldwide, with 35,000 new cases and around 10,000
deaths in the UK every year. Cancer experts recommend eating a balanced diet
which is high in fruit and vegetables and low in red and processed meat, fat
and salt.
The Bristol team analysed the diets and lifestyles of around 20,000
British men aged between 50 and 69.
They found men who consumed more than 10 portions of tomatoes each week
- such as fresh tomatoes, tomato juice and baked beans - saw an 18% reduction in
prostate cancer risk. Eating the recommended five servings of fruit or
vegetables or more a day was also found to decrease risk by 24%, compared with
men who ate two-and-a-half servings or less.
"Our findings suggest that tomatoes may be important in prostate
cancer prevention," said Vanessa Er, from the School of Social and
Community Medicine at Bristol University. "However, further studies need
to be conducted to confirm our findings, especially through human [clinical]
trials.
"Men should still eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables,
maintain a healthy weight and stay active."
Dietary index
The cancer-fighting properties of tomatoes are thought to be due to
lycopene, an antioxidant which can protect against DNA and cell damage.
The researchers also looked at two other dietary components linked with
prostate cancer risk - selenium, found in flour-based foods such as bread and
pasta, and calcium, found in dairy products such as milk and cheese. Men who
had optimal intake of these three dietary components had a lower risk of
prostate cancer, they said.
Commenting on the study, Dr Iain Frame of Prostate Cancer UK said there
was not yet enough evidence to make concrete recommendations on which specific
foods men should eat to reduce their risk of prostate cancer. "What we do
know is that men shouldn't rely too heavily on one type of food, such as
tomatoes," he said.
"A healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and
vegetables, together with regular exercise is by far the best option."
Tom Stansfeld of Cancer Research UK added: "While eating foods
rich in lycopene - such as tomatoes - or selenium may be associated with a
reduction in the risk of prostate cancer, this has not been proven, and this
study can't confirm whether there is a link between diet and prostate cancer
risk.
"Diet and cancer prevention is a complex issue with few black and
white answers; we encourage everyone to eat a balanced diet which is high in
fruit and vegetables and low in red and processed meat, fat and salt."
The research, published in the
journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, was carried out in
collaboration with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-28950093
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