THE FOOD-PROSTATE CONNECTION: BAFFLED BY BETA-CAROTENE

An article appeared in the July 15, 1997 issue of Family Practice News reporting new data from the Physicians' Health Study, which showed the relationship between intake of beta-carotene and prostate cancer to be quite complex.

The Physicians' Health Study is funded by The National Cancer Institute. The study began in 1982 when 22,071 male physicians were randomized to receive either beta-carotene or placebo and were followed in a double-blind fashion for 12 years. Men who had very low levels of beta-carotene at the start of the study had a reduction of prostate cancer when they took 50,000 units of beta-carotene a day. However, men who had higher than normal levels of beta-carotene in their blood at the start of the study had a higher rate of prostate cancer if they took supplements of beta-carotene. These results were reported by Dr. Meir Stampfer at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Stampfer is Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

A close look at the data showed that men who initially had low levels of beta-carotene, indicating a low intake of fruits and vegetables, had a 36 percent greater rate of cancer at all sites compared to men with the highest level of initial beta-carotene. Since levels of beta-carotene often reflect a person's fruit and vegetable consumption, these results are consistent with various other studies that testify fruits and vegetables protect against cancer.

Even though men with low beta-carotene levels benefited from supplements, I prefer that they get this carotenoid from dietary sources instead of from a pill. The reason for the increased rate of prostate cancer in individuals with higher levels of beta-carotene who also supplemented with beta-carotene is that excessive intake of this carotenoid may have caused an imbalance. Normally hundreds of carotenoids are ingested on a daily basis. By taking too much of one carotenoid, an imbalance or relative deficiency of another carotenoid within our tissues and cells may be caused.

It's quite easy to get adequate amounts of plant chemicals if a few pieces of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes are consumed on a daily basis. Drinking a few ounces of vegetable or fruit juices a day is also acceptable, though it is preferable these juices be a mix of a few different types in order to get a variety of different plant chemicals.

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