Healthy Living News from Prostate.net » Things to Avoid

Drinking Milk May Increase Prostate Cancer Risk

Editor — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:49:40 +0000

A new study led by Johanna E. Torfadottir from the University of Iceland analyzed 8,894 men that were born between 1907 and 1935 and came from different areas of Iceland where regular milk consumption varied based on availability in the area. They followed these men for 24 years. Their study results showed that those men that lived in the capital, where milk was scarce at the time, were 29 percent less likely to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. For those men that were born before 1920 and lived in rural areas and consumed regular amounts of milk, the risk was as much as 64 percent higher than those in the capital.

While this study was observational and does not show a direct cause between milk and prostate cancer, other studies have shown there may be a link.

Read more

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One More Reason to Avoid Fake Viagra

Editor — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:30:36 +0000

As if there are not enough reasons to avoid fake drugs and medications new evidence now shows the existence of paint and rat poison in fake erectile dysfunction pills.

Fraudsters use commercial-grade paint to mimic the erectile dysfunction drug’s trademark blue color, and then pack the pills with toxins like boric acid, speed, and even rat poison.

Read more

Mice Exposed to BPA Less Attractive to Females

James Craig — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:46:36 +0000

A growing body of evidence has linked exposure to the chemical BPA (Bisphenol-A) to all manner of illness including prostate cancer and now it seems if you are exposed to BPA (if you are a male mouse that is), then your chances of attracting a female just became a lot worse.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is ubiquitous in the environment, found in common, everyday products. BPA is used in food and beverage containers and packaging, and the chemical leaches into the products. That means your canned beans, peas, soups, and chili have likely been exposed to BPA, as well as milk cartons and foods in plastic containers. It’s been estimated that 90 percent of people in the United States have detectable levels of BPA toxin in their bodies.

A recent study now shows that male mice who were exposed as babies to BPA act more like females and are seen as less desirable mates.

Study lead author Cheryl Rosenfeld at the University of Missouri said, “The BPA-exposed deer mice in our study look normal; there is nothing obviously wrong with them. Yet, they are clearly different.” Read more

Selenium and Prostate Cancer Risk

Dr. Geo Espinosa, N.D., L.Ac, CNS, RH (AHG) — Sun, 29 May 2011 19:44:57 +0000

New research from the Institute for Transdisciplinary Health Research, in Berlin, casts more doubt over long-established claims made for the powers of selenium. The Cochrane Systematic Review of fifty-five previous studies focused on evidence of links between selenium exposure and cancer risk including prostate cancer. The review of the results of studies led the researchers to conclude that selenium alone cannot be cited as the cause of a lower prostate cancer risk.

“It’s a really sad thing about selenium,” concedes Dr Helen Rippon, head of research management at the UK Prostate Cancer Charity (www.prostate-cancer.org.uk). “All the initial laboratory data seemed to suggest it could be particularly useful in combating prostate cancer, but when it came down to the really big human-based trials it just didn’t cut it.” READ MORE

BPH Drug Dutasteride (Avodart) and Prostate Cancer

Deborah Mitchell — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:30:50 +0000

Results of a four-year study show that men who took dutasteride (Avodart), a drug commonly prescribed for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), were less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, men taking dutasteride who did develop prostate cancer were more likely to have more deadly tumors—those with a high Gleason score—than men who took a placebo. The study appears in The New England Journal of Medicine (April 2010).

All of the 6,729 men enrolled in the study were at high risk for prostate cancer but believed to be disease-free when the study began. Prostate biopsies were done at two and four years. Although 25 percent of men who took placebo developed prostate cancer compared with 20 percent of those who took Avodart, investigators are unsure whether dutasteride helped prevent the development of cancer or whether it suppressed PSA levels. Men who are taking Avodart and who undergo PSA screening should inform their healthcare provider they are taking the drug and about the results of this study.

Soda Coloring May Increase Risk of Cancer

Denise Reynolds RD LD/N — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:57:06 +0000

If you are a soda drinker, it may be time to rethink your drink. An advocacy organization has brought to light some studies that indicate that the caramel coloring used in dark soft drinks and some foods are known to be carcinogens in mice and rats. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is asking the US Food and Drug Administration to ban the chemicals.

Dark colas, such as Coke and Pepsi, use a coloring that is manufactured through a chemical reaction between sugars, ammonia, and sulfates. According to CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson, these reactions produce two carcinogens: 2-methylimidazole (2-MEI) and 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI). Studies by the National Toxicology Program have identified these two chemicals as causing cancer in animals – specifically of the lung, liver, thyroid, and blood (leukemia).

California has added 4-MEI to its list of carcinogens and is pursuing legislation that would require a product that elevated levels of the chemical to carry a warning on the label. Levels higher than 16 micrograms per person per day would require a warning. Jacobson says some sodas have levels eight times higher than that. A 12-ounce can of cola contains up to 130 micrograms, according to CSPI.

Clear sodas such as Sprite do not contain the caramel coloring.

Jacobson has petitioned the FDA to ban the artificial colorings, which have no nutritional or preservative value, and move toward natural colorings such as from beets or carrots.

Of course, to every story, there is two sides. The American Beverage Association contends that there is no evidence yet that shows that 4-MEI causes cancer in humans. Take the case of saccharin, which carried a warning level for years because it caused bladder cancer in rats. However, it was later discovered that rats respond to saccharin differently than humans, and over time, an increased risk of cancer was not found to occur in humans.

Medpage Today, a news service for physicians developed in part by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, notes that while there was “clear evidence” that 4-MEI caused cancer in mice, the studies in rats were less clear. They also note that the significant increases in leukemia were found in females and not males.

Even if future studies find no risk in humans, excessive intake of soda is still concerning for other health reasons. First, regular soft drinks can contribute a significant amount of calories to the diet. Obesity is rampant now in our country, with over two-thirds of Americans over their ideal body weight. Excess body weight increases the risk for heart disease (the number one killer of American adults), diabetes, respiratory problems such as sleep apnea, and some types of cancer including those of the colon and pancreas.

But diet soda may be no better. Another recent study highlighted this month found that diet sodas may potentially increase the risk of strokes by as much as 60%. In background information for this study, conducted at the University of Miami, notes that those who drink more than one type of soft drink per day, regular or diet, are at a greater risk of metabolic syndrome (a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors) and that this may be contributing to the increase in stroke risk.

The bottom line for health – decrease the amount of soft drinks you consume – regular or diet, brown or clear – and increase your intake of water. After all, as Dr. Jennifer Ashton says to CBS News, “our bodies are about 60% water, not 60% soda.”

Is Coffee Good for Men’s Health?

Editor — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:22:41 +0000

Is coffee a beverage that is good for men’s health, or is it harmful? When it comes to prostate health, coffee and the caffeine and other components it contains can be troublesome for men who have BPH, but if your concern is prostate cancer, coffee and caffeine appear to be safe for now, according to recent studies. Read more about the effects of coffee on men’s health

Vitamin E – The Good and The Bad for Prostate Health

Editor — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 21:55:13 +0000

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant whose main tasks are to fight free radical production and activity and to help with immune system functioning, cell signaling, and metabolism. The form of vitamin E used in most studies and found in most supplements is alpha-tocopherol. However, recent research has shown that gamma-tocopherol may help fight prostate cancer, and that it also functions independently as well as synergistically with the alpha form.

In a study that compared alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and selenium in prostate cancer patients, it was found that the greater the intake of gamma-tocopherol, the lower the risk of prostate cancer. Researchers also observed that alpha-tocopherol and selenium protected against prostate cancer only when gamma-tocopherol intake was high. (Helzlsouer 2000) This information is important when men consider the results of the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), which the National Cancer Institute stopped early because the results showed a small but not statistically significant increase in the number of cases of prostate cancer among the more than 35,000 men age 50 and older in the study who were taking vitamin E only. (Lippman 2009) However, the vitamin E used in SELECT was alpha-tocopherol rather than gamma-tocopherol or a combination of both alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, which may explain the small increase in the number of prostate cancer cases.

It is suggested that men get their RDA (15 mg or 22.4 IU) of vitamin E from food (e.g., nuts, sunflower seeds, vegetable oils) or, if taking a supplement, to take gamma-tocopherol or a supplement that contains a combination of the two.

Cycling and Prostatitis

Editor — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 23:54:14 +0000

La Mondiale’s Cyril Dessel has pulled out of the Tour de San Luis in Argentina and will be sidelined for a month and a half with a urinary infection. The French rider has acute prostatitis, an inflammation of the prostate gland, and has been told by the team doctor he must stay off his bike for 45 days. Read more

Chondroitin and Prostate Cancer

Editor — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:57:27 +0000

Chondroitin is a major constituent of cartilage, which provides structure, holds onto water and nutrients, and otherwise helps keep the cartilage healthy. In people who have osteoarthritis, the body loses chondroitin as the cartilage erodes, thus some individuals take chondroitin sulfate supplements to relieve symptoms of the disease and possibly slow its progression.

A few studies have indicated that taking chondroitin sulfate may not be a good idea for men who have prostate cancer. The red flag was raised more than 25 year ago with a study in which the concentration of chondroitin sulfate was found to be higher in cancerous prostate tissue as compared with healthy prostate tissue. (De Klerk 1984) Nearly 15 years went by when another study found that higher concentrations of chondroitin sulfate that settled in the tissue surrounding a cancerous prostate tumor was predictive of a higher rate of recurrence of the cancer after surgery. (Ricciardelli 1999)

Since then, more studies have been conducted, with at least one noting a higher concentration of chondroitin in BPH. (Cardoso 2004) While research continues to indicate that chondroitin seems to have a role in predicting relapse of prostate cancer (Sakko 2008), no study has shown that it causes prostate cancer. An alternative natural treatment for osteoarthritis, and one that has shown no association with prostate or any other type of cancer, is glucosamine. Studies show that glucosamine helps preserve the thickness of joint cartilage and thus slows progression of osteoarthritis and may even have a positive role in preventing prostate disease.