28 Aug Prostate Cancer Risk May Be Lower With Lycopene, Tomato Intake
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Vanessa Er PhD
School of Social and Community Medicine
University of Bristol and Bristol Nutrition BRU
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Er: We found that men who had optimal intake of three nutrients- calcium, selenium and foods rich in lycopene– had a lower risk of prostate cancer. Mainly, men who ate over 10 servings/week of tomatoes and tomato-based products had 18% reduction in risk of developing prostate cancer. We also found that the risk of prostate cancer was lower in men who had high intake of fruits and vegetables.
Medical Research: Were any of the findings unexpected?
Dr. Er: Our findings are interesting but they are not entirely unexpected. There have been studies that found an association between tomatoes/lycopene and lower risk of prostate cancer and our study supports that.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Er: Although we found a link between tomato and prostate cancer, we cannot be sure that it prevents prostate cancer. There is no harm including tomatoes in your daily diet but men should still eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, stay active and maintain a healthy weight. Also, they should obtain these nutrients from foods rather than supplements.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Er: More studies are needed to confirm our findings especially through large scale human trials.
Citation:
Last Updated on November 26, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD