Some 10,000 men lose their lives each year due to prostate cancer.
However, researchers may have found a way to slow down the growth of prostate tumors using a synthetic form of lycopene, the red pigment found in many ripe fruits like tomatoes.

Studies were conducted using mice, which were implanted with human prostate tumors. Tumor growth in the mice treated with a low dose synthetic lycopene, LycoVit, fell by 50 percent compared to the mice not treated. Researchers also discovered tumor growth dropped by 73 percent when lycopene was combined with vitamin E.

The findings made it evident that the old saying "less is more" applies here: Alow dose of lycopene and vitamin E had a greater effect on reducing growth than higher doses did.

The study gave researchers insight on how to monitor and assess treatment for men with prostate cancer. Findings showed that levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) directly corresponded with the growth rate of tumors.

Although it's still too soon to conduct clinical trials on male humans, researchers hope their findings will lead to reducing the risk and prevention of prostate cancer altogether.

In the meantime, men are encouraged to eat an all around healthy diet, including plenty of lycopene and vitamin E to slow down and prevent growth of prostate tumors. Some suggested foods include:

• Watermelon
• Pink grapefruits
• Mangoes
• Leafy greens vegetables
• Nuts

BBC News September 30, 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

This is yet another example of a needless case trying to improve on a healthy, natural means to treat disease. It is far better to use phytochemicals in their natural state when they are combined with a variety of co-factors that facilitate their health benefits. Attempts to isolate single ingredients are frequently not as beneficial as using the less processed versions. Much research has been done on what you can take naturally to assist in treating prostate cancer. In a Harvard study including nearly 48,000 men, researchers found eating tomato sauce a couple of times a week may help. Lycopene appears to be the active ingredient in tomatoes responsible for this effect. (Hearing this may motivate some people to run out and stock up on lycopene supplements, however this would not be advisable as lycopene is more effective when it is combined with other chemicals in the tomatoes.) Also, if taken in excess, tomatoes will adversely influence one's insulin levels. Aside from tomatoes, there are a number of natural ingredients and tools you can utilize in order to treat and prevent prostate cancer: Optimized vitamin D levels Increased omega-3 oils Regular sun exposure Freshly ground flaxseeds Vitamin E Vegetable juice Cutting down sugar Normalizing stress Related Articles: Lycopene May Protect Against Asthma Vegetables That Prevent and Cure Cancer A New Tool to Treat Prostate Cancer Vegetable Fiber Lowers Risk of Prostate Cancer Yearly Prostate Cancer Test Unnecessary in Men With Low PSA