Cauliflower and broccoli 'cut risk of cancer'

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Eating cauliflower and broccoli twice a week can almost halve a man's chances of developing the most life-threatening form of prostate cancer, a new study claims.


Broccoli and cauliflower can cut a man's chances of developing the most aggressive prostate cancer


The research shows that eating the vegetables can reduce dramatically the risk of an aggressive tumour.

Cauliflower can cut the chances of developing the cancer by 52 per cent, while broccoli can reduce the risk by as much as 45 per cent, the researchers said.

Although the two vegetables have long been thought to protect against the disease, this is the first study to show they are particularly good at preventing dangerous forms of prostate cancer.

The same study showed that other fruits and vegetables did not have the same impact.

advertisementA team of scientists, led by experts at the US National Cancer Institute in Maryland, came up with the findings after tracking 29,000 men over a four-year period.

All were regularly screened for signs of prostate cancer. Researchers also monitored their eating habits, particularly their intake of different vegetables.

The results, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, cast doubt on whether foods such as tomatoes, which have been touted as having powerful anti-cancer properties, really have any effect on the disease.

But the researchers noticed that the numbers diagnosed with fast-growing tumours likely to spread through the body were much lower in men who ate broccoli or cauliflower at least once a week. The vegetables are thought to be rich in compounds that protect against damage to DNA.

Almost 32,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year in Britain, and 10,000 men die from it - the equivalent of more than one an hour.

The risks increase with age, with men over 50 more likely to develop a tumour, and there is a strong genetic element.

One of the first signs can be frequent urination, as the tumour presses on the urethra, the tube that carries, urine out of the body.

Some prostate tumours are slow-growing and rarely spread to other organs, while others are much more aggressive. The survival rate for patients diagnosed with the latter is poor.

The researchers wrote: \"One way to reduce the burden of this disease may be primary prevention through increased consumption of broccoli and cauliflower.\"

Cancer Research UK welcomed the findings and said vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower could also help reduce the risks of different cancers.

It is backing a trial, called CRISP-1, to see if a chemical called diindolylmethane that is found in green leafy vegetables can help ward off cervical cancer in women

Much of the research on prostate cancer prevention focuses on nutrition. Key factors include:

Fat. Prostate cancer rates vary greatly from one country to another, with the highest rates appearing in countries where people tend to eat a lot of fat. In fact, the number of prostate cancer deaths in a given country rises in direct proportion to the average total calories from fat in that country's typical diet.
Vegetables. Some studies link a diet high in vegetables to a lower risk of prostate cancer. For example, one study found that men who ate 28 or more servings of vegetables each week had lower rates of prostate cancer compared to men who ate less than 14 servings.
Fish. In one study, prostate cancer was two to three times more common in men who ate no fish as in men who ate moderate to large amounts of fish. Types of fish that are rich in the fatty acids that protect against prostate cancer and other diseases include salmon, herring, and mackerel.
So far, research does not support definite nutritional guidelines for preventing prostate cancer. However, you can reasonably act on these suggestions:

Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Reduce intake of saturated fat and cholesterol.
Limit sweets and salt.
Drink alcoholic beverages in moderation, if at all.
Eat moderate-sized portions and control calories.

Selenium and vitamin E
Years of nutrition research have suggested that daily doses of the mineral selenium, vitamin E or both may help to prevent prostate cancer. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), launched in 2001, is following up on these observations.

By its projected endpoint in 2013, SELECT will have data on prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment from over 32,000 men. These men are taking selenium, vitamin E, a combination of both, or a placebo. By studying such a large number of people over so many years, researchers will gain detailed evidence about the preventive effects of these two substances.

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