Fiber Lowers Prostate Cancer Risk

Fiber Lowers Prostate Cancer Risk

MILAN, ItalyNew researchpublished in the March 20 edition of the InternationalJournal of Cancer (109, 2:278-280, 2004) showsvegetable fiber may lower the incidence of prostate cancer. Researchers notedthis is the first study to look into fibers role in prostate cancer.

In an 11-year multicenter case-control study, researchersinvestigated 1,294 men with incident, histologically confirmed prostate cancerand 1,451 controls with acute nonmalignant conditions. They found the risk forprostate cancer was inversely related with soluble fiber, cellulose andvegetable fiber, with vegetable fiber seen as the most protectivemen whoconsumed the highest amount of vegetables were 18 percent less likely to developprostate cancer than those who ate the least amount of vegetables. Theserelationships were consistent across all ages, family histories of prostatecancer, body mass indexes and education.

According to a Reuters write-up, study researchers reportedthat because vegetables were seen to provide the most benefits of all the fibersinvestigated, it may be possible that some of their other nutrients could be thereason behind their prostate benefits.