IMPORTANCE OF ANTI-OXIDANTS IN FIGHTING PROSTATE CANCER BY DR.MEYERS

Dr. Meyers stressed the importance of anti-oxidants in any diet for reducing
prostate
cancer. Their benefits had been well established in randomised trials


and in
the laboratory. A clinical trial of 26,000 male smokers in Finland tried
to
establish if two anti-oxidants, vitamin E and beta-carotene, had any
benefit
in reducing lung cancer. The results were unexpected. While no benefits
were
found with lung cancer, the results showed that administering a
supplement of
vitamin E lead to a 40% reduction in the expected level of deaths from
prostate cancer over the five to eight years of the test. According to
Dr
Myers, testosterone in the presence of prostate cancer produces hydrogen

peroxide, which is a strongly oxidising substance. The vitamin E, an
anti-oxidant, acts to neutralise the damaging hydrogen peroxide, slowing
the
progress of the cancer. In the same trial, the group who received
beta-carotene and vitamin E combined, experienced a 30% increase in rate
of
deaths from prostate cancer. It as clear that beta-carotene cancelled
the
benefit of the vitamin E, a most unexpected outcome!

SELENIUM & REDUCTION IN PROSTATE CANCER DEATHS

Another anti-oxidant that has been proven to have benefit with most
cancers
and particularly prostate cancer (by its ability to convert hydrogen
peroxide
to water) is selenium, particularly the yeast-derived form. Selenium was

administered in a randomised trial over 10 years at a dose of 200
micrograms
daily to men who were not receiving an adequate quantity naturally in
their
food supply. Results showed a reduction in prostate cancer deaths of
more
than 75% in men and initially low PSA's and even up to 64% reduction
amongst
men with elevated PSA's.

Vitamin C, a strong antioxidant, has been shown in the laboratory to
prevent
testosterone from oxidising prostate cancer, but this has not yet been
proved
in randomised human trials. Another antioxidant group is carotenoids,
the
pigment in plants which protect the plant from damage from sunlight. As
already mentioned, beta-carotene, although a carotenoid, is converted in
the
body to vitamin A, so is not effective against prostate cancer. However,

lycopene, another carotenoid, is not converted to vitamin A. There is
very
strong evidence that lycopene can be effective in preventing prostate
cancer
from developing.

VITAMIN D CAN KILL CANCER CELLS

Laboratory tests have shown that vitamin D can kill cancer cells. In
clinical
use, vitamin D was administered to seven patients who had experienced
recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Six patients showed reduced
PSA's.
However, vitamin D in the form offered by most supplements tends to be
ineffective. More work is needed to find a form of vitamin D that is
more
active and easily assimilated. Calcitriol, obtainable by prescription,
can be
useful as a source of assimilable vitamin D. Dr Myers tests all his
patients
receiving hormone therapy for the level of calcitriol in their blood.
Low
calcitriol levels may indicate development of osteoporosis - a common
side-effect of hormone therapy. When prostate cancer invades bone, it
consumes the calcium. To make up the deficit, other parts of the
skeleton are
robbed of calcium leading to osteoporosis and pain, especially in
joints.



--------------------------------------------------