Download Pomegranate`s anti-prostate cancer potential

Pomegranate’s anti-prostate cancer potential
TUESDAY, JANUARY 06, 2009
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles report that extracts of
the fruit were associated with a two-fold suppression in the expression of genes
linked to prostate cancer. “This study showed that pomegranate products and
their polyphenols reduced tumor cell growth and induced apoptosis in both
androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells,” wrote the
authors in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry “These anti-proliferative effects
were also consistent in hormone-treated cells. This implies the potential possibility
that pomegranate and its polyphenols are used as novel dietary supplements with
maximum potential for androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate
chemoprevention.” Pomegranate juice and extracts were supplied by POM
Wonderful.
According to the researchers, early stage prostate tumors are dependent on
testosterone levels circulating in the blood, but recurrent prostate tumors become
unaffected by circulating testosterone levels. The cancer cells themselves can
then increase testosterone synthesis, and this is linked to an over-expression of
the so-called androgen receptor (AR). Using androgen-dependent and androgenindependent prostate cancer cell lines, Mee Young Hong, Navindra Seeram, and
David Heber from UCLA investigated if pomegranate extract and juice had an
effect on the expression of genes for key androgen-synthesising enzymes and the
androgen receptor. They report that the polyphenols from pomegranate were
capable of stopping the spread of both types of cancer, and that the compounds
promoted apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the cells. Building the science The
study follows similarly positive results from UCLA published in 2006 in the journal
Clinical Cancer Research (Vol. 12, pp. 4018-4026). In that instance, 46 men were
given eight ounces (227g) of pomegranate juice (Wonderful variety, equivalent to
570 mg of polyphenols) every day, and followed in three-month intervals. The
researchers found that the average doubling time increased from an average of
15 months to 54 months for the men drinking the pomegranate juice.
Steve - while exciting research, we must look at with trepidation because POM
may have helped fund the study along with providing the source product. Do we
believe that pomegranates have incredible health benefits? Yes. However, we
must be as critical with natural product companies that fund research as we are
with drug companies.