Prostate cancer has become a frequently studied and examined issue among medical professionals and researchers. In fact, one study found higher levels of selenium, vitamin E and the tomato nutrient lycopene reduced prostate cancer in one out of every four Caucasian males--with a specific genetic variation of prostate cancer that's particularly sensitive to oxidative stress. (Oxidative stress is a physiological stress on the body that is caused by the cumulative damage done by free radicals, or products of oxidative reactions in and out of the body.)

Researchers found that if carriers of this specific genotype of prostate cancer contain low levels of the listed vitamins and minerals, then their risk of aggressive prostate cancer can increase as much as 10-fold over those who maintain high levels of the nutrients.

These findings were derived from an analysis of more than 560 men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1982 and 1995 and more than 760 cancer-free men. Researchers decided to review variants of the gene that codes for manganese superoxide dismutatase (MnSOD), which is a crucial enzyme working as an antioxidant in human cells to fight off disease. The MnSOD gene is passed from parent to child in one of three forms: VV, VA and AA.

And the Results ...

• Men with the AA genotype seemed more sensitive to antioxidant status, compared to men with VV and VA.

• VA and VV carriers were at an equal risk for developing prostate cancer across all levels of antioxidants in their blood; men with the AA genotype were more vulnerable to prostate cancer if their antioxidant levels were low.

• AA genotype carriers had an 89 percent increased risk for developing aggressive prostate cancer if blood levels for selenium were low, compared to VV or VA carriers with low selenium.

• Conversely, men with the AA genotype with high selenium had a 65 percent lower risk than VV or VA carriers who maintained low levels of selenium.

Moreover, similar trends were seen when vitamin E and lycopene were tested independently; however, the most supportive evidence was that the contrast in relative risk was mainly pronounced for men who had high blood levels for all three antioxidants combined.

Cancer Research March 15, 2005; 65(6):2498-504

Medical News Today March 15, 2005

Guest Comment by Dr. Larry Clapp:

Although focusing primarily on the 10-fold reduction in prostate cancer patients of a particular genotype type (AA), who are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress, there have been a number of studies confirming the preventative and healing benefits of vitamin E, selenium and lycopene for prostate cancer.

Given there are additional health benefits gained from these nutrients, moderate consumption appears to be beneficial; however, the above study merely measured blood levels, offering no guidance on dosages or sources.

Benefits of Vitamins and Nutrients In Prostate Cancer Prevention

As with all nutrients, the benefits are maximized when the nutrient source is from naturally raised food. In the case of lycopene, recent studies have found no benefit from lycopene supplements, though marked benefits have been achieved from foods high in lycopene, such as cooked tomatoes. So, tomato sauce without much pasta appears beneficial.

Vitamin E, on the other hand, is far more beneficial due to mixed tocopherols, rather than the typical alpha supplements. Seemingly, this is due to the fact that only gamma-tocopherols are found in the body, as it is the most commonly occurring natural form of vitamin E in the American diet. Since alpha-tocopherol has incredible antioxidant benefits, and gamma-tocopherol has been found to be the only form that inhibits the production of cancer cells, it is recommended to obtain about 400 IU of mixed tocopherols daily.

Finally, selenium is essential to balancing minerals in the body. It is found in most green vegetables, which have proven to be the core of healthy nutrition--the greener, more organic and less cooked the better. Thus, meeting a goal of 200 mg of selenium a day seems to be beneficial.

Best Cancer Fighter: A Total Health Program

Though, while these nutrients can be highly beneficial as part of an overall healing plan, they are not "cure-alls" or "magic bullets," and are not a substitute for a Total Health Program such as Dr. Mercola's. We have such a tendency and craving for the quick fix; after all, most of us have been raised to take a pill and keep on doing whatever we have been doing, but the evidence is overwhelming that it doesn't work, longer term.

When we learn to pay attention to the message the body is trying to give us and make a few changes, we can then begin to find the cause(s) and true healing, instead of treating symptoms until the message is so loud we cannot ignore it. Cancer is a pretty loud message and usually could have been avoided by paying attention to earlier messages, such as prostatitis and prostate symptoms. An overall healing plan of cleansing and rebuilding seems to always work.

Dr. Larry Clapp is the author of bestselling Prostate Health in 90 Days Without Drugs or Surgery. When diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990, Dr. Clapp made a firm decision to deflect falling victim to surgery, radiation or chemotherapy and instead focused on researching the self-healing alternatives to treating prostate cancer. During his seven years of intensive research, Dr. Clapp developed expertise in cleansing, nutritional healing, pH balancing, herbology, homeopathy, bodywork and energetic and spiritual healing. Combining the best of these healing arts, he developed a successful treatment program for prostate cancer, which he used to cure himself.

He earned his J.D. degree at the University of Michigan Law School in 1963 and later obtained his Ph.D. at Galien University in London in 1996.

Today, Dr. Clapp is cancer-free and uses his research to aid others in treating and curing their prostate cancer without succumbing to harmful drugs or surgery.

Related Articles:

A New Tool to Treat Prostate Cancer

Vitamin E Found to Cut Prostate Cancer Risk in Half

Slow Prostate Cancer with Synthetic Lycopene? Better Think Twice

Selenium Related to Prostate Cancer Risk

How You Can Beat Prostate and Breast Cancer Nutritionally