Pomegranate for Prostate Cancer

Preliminary evidence, presented at the 2011 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, suggests that pomegranate supplements may help slow the progression of prostate cancer in some men.

Pomegranate is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Some early evidence suggests that it may have preventative effects against prostate cancer.

The recent study included 104 men with localized prostate cancer whose prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were doubling every 11.9 months. PSA is a protein that is produced by the prostate gland. Prostate cancer patients often have increased PSA levels, although cancer may occur with any PSA level.

The participants were randomly assigned to receive either one or three grams of a pomegranate supplement (POMx®) daily for 18 months or until their conditions progressed.

The researchers found that after six months of supplementation, the average PSA doubling time increased to 18.5 months. The results were similar among both groups. Eight patients reported mild-to-moderate diarrhea.

However, the study is limited by its small sample size and lack of control group. The lead author of the study is a consultant for POM Wonderful, the company that manufactures POMx®. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings.

Pomegranate juice is also commonly used to help prevent atherosclerosis; however, evidence of effectiveness is inconclusive in this area. Early research also suggests that pomegranate may be beneficial as a treatment for erectile dysfunction and high cholesterol, but more data are needed before conclusions can be made.

For more information about integrative therapies for prostate cancer, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

References
1.Carducci MA, Paller CJ, Wozniak P, et al. A phase II study of pomegranate extract for men with rising prostate-specific antigen following primary therapy. J Clin Oncol 29: 2011 (suppl 7; abstr 11). View Abstract
2.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com

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