Prostate cancer results when there are abnormal cells in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer can be aggressive, which means it grows quickly and spreads to other parts of the body. When prostate cancer spreads, doctors say the cancer has "metastasized." Or it may be slow growing and stay in the prostate, causing few if any problems. Three out of four cases of prostate cancer are of the slow-growing type that is relatively harmless. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that there are about 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States each year.

Alternative Prostate Cancer treatment for localized prostate cancer
Exercise, maintaining normal body weight, eating fish, legumes, flaxseed, yellow-orange vegetables and cruciferous vegetables lower prostate cancer risk. Increasing the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in the diet appears to slow the progression of prostate cancer. The so-called Western diet commonly consumed in the US contains mostly omega-6 fatty acids, derived from corn oil and other sources. Omega-3 fatty acids, by contrast, are abundant in cold-water fish, a food source missing in the diets of many Americans.
   Much has been written about the conventional treatment of prostate cancer. This web page focuses on some of the research done with natural supplements. Do no change your prostate cancer treatment plan as recommended by your doctor. Rather, if you find any of this information interesting, bring it to the attention of your urologist or family doctor.
   Certain supplements have been found to have an influence on prostate cancer, particularly in laboratory tests or animal studies. Long term, double blind human studies are not available to confirm these early laboratory findings, but it may be worthwhile to consider the following alternative prostate cancer treatment supplements as long as you have approval by your doctor. Perhaps some of these natural herbs can be used together with traditional prostate cancer treatment strategies.

Curcumin may help fight cancer, including prostate cancer. Researchers have found in the lab that Curcumin can enhance the cancer-fighting power of treatment with TRAIL, a naturally occurring molecule that helps kill cancer cells. TRAIL stands for tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand. In an experiment with human prostate cancer cells in a laboratory dish, the combination treatment killed off two to three times more cells than either treatment alone. See curcumin turmeric for more information.
Fish oils appear to be beneficial (see study below). Flax seed oil may also be helpful. Krill oil is another option.
Genistein levels are lower in patients with enlarged prostates or prostate cancer. Soy isoflavonoid supplements may help reduce the risk for prostate cancer.
Guggulsterone, a constituent of Indian Ayurvedic medicinal plant Commiphora mukul, causes apoptosis of prostate cancer cells in vitro. See Guggul for more information.
IP6 - inositol hexaphosphate
Lycopene Adding lycopene to orchidectomy produces a more reliable and consistent decrease in serum PSA level; it not only shrinks the primary tumor but also diminishes the secondary tumors, providing better relief from bone pain and lower urinary tract symptoms, and improving survival compared with orchidectomy alone. However, lycopene supplements, alone, may not be enough.
Milk thistle -- many compounds in mile thistle, including silymarin and silibinin, have shown potent anti-prostate cancer activity.
Pygeum africanum used for treatment of BPH, has a significant role in regulation of prostate cancer both in vitro and in vivo and therefore may be a useful supplement for people at high risk for developing prostate cancer.
Quercetin is a flavonoid found widely in plants.
Resveratrol has been found helpful in mouse studies. See resveratrol supplement for more information.
Saw palmetto -- one test tube study indicates saw palmetto slows the growth of prostate cancer cells. See prostate saw palmetto information.
Stinging Nettle -- see study below
Reishi has anti-cancer activity in prostate cancer cells
Soy protein supplement use may be an alternative prostate cancer treatment or prevention option
Vitamin E Natural Complex -- see study below. It is preferable to keep total vitamin E dosage a day to between 30 and 200 units. There is no proof that higher amounts of vitamin E are beneficial.
Soy protein may be helpful

Prostate Power Rx - Physician Formulas
Formulated by Ray-Sahelian, M.D.

 

With Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, Stinging Nettle, Gensitein, Quercetin, Phytoestrogens, and several Ingredients for support of normal prostate health and size.

Prostate Power Rx is carefully formulated with important herbs and nutrients to provide optimal prostate health.
 

Prostate Power Rx Supplement Facts
Saw Palmetto extract
Stinging Nettle extract
Quercetin
Rosemary extract
Beta Sitosterol
Pygeum extract
Daidzein and Genistein (standardized to contain 40% isoflavones)
(treatment with the isoflavones daidzein and genistein, the estrogen-like compounds found in soy, block prostate growth in rats)
Lycopene

Subscribe to a FREE Supplement Research Update newsletter, Twice a month we email a brief abstract of several studies on various supplements and natural medicine topics, including alternative prostate cancer treatment, and their practical interpretation by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

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Fat and prostate cancer
Diets high in saturated fat increase the risk of prostate cancer progression. In a follow up study of men who had their cancerous prostates removed, men who consumed higher amounts of saturated fat -- mostly from steaks, burgers, cheese, ice cream, salad dressings, and mayonnaise -- were more likely to experience disease progression after surgery than men with lower saturated fat intake. International Journal of Cancer, June 1, 2008. Therefore, an alternative prostate cancer treatment is to consume a higher intake of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, substitute fish for steaks and burgers, and to eat less dairy.

Supplements for prostate cancer
Effect of nutritional supplement challenge in patients with isolated high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.
Urology. 2007 Jun;69(6):1102-6. Department of Urology, University Hospitals Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
The researchers wanted to see the effects of selenium, vitamin E, and soy isoflavonoid supplements in men diagnosed with isolated prostate cancer on biopsy. The results showed that taking these supplements for a period of six months led to a decrease in the PSA level which could predict a lower risk of prostate cancer in future biopsies.   
   At the study endpoint, prostate cancer had been found in 24 men (33%), HGPIN in 34 (48%), and no HGPIN or carcinoma in 13 (18%). The prostate cancer risk throughout the study period was 25% in the group with a stable or decreasing PSA level and 52% in the group with an increasing PSA level.

Green tea and prostate cancer
Compounds found in green tea may prevent the development of prostate cancer in men with a pre-cancerous condition called high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). About 30,000 men die from prostate cancer in the United States every year. High-grade PIN progresses to invasive prostate cancer within a year in about 30 percent of men and no treatment is given to these men with high-grade PIN until prostate cancer is diagnosed. Green tea catechins may be one answer. A trial was performed involving men with high-grade PIN, who were given an inactive placebo preparation or one containing 600 milligrams of green tea catechins daily, "equivalent to 12-15 cups of green tea infusion, that is about two times the average intake in Asian countries. After a year, only 1 man among 32 in the green tea catechins group developed prostate cancer, a rate of only 3 percent. In contrast, 9 out of 30 men treated with placebo developed prostate cancer, for the expected rate of 30 percent.

Lycopene and prostate cancer
Do dietary lycopene and other carotenoids protect against prostate cancer?
Int J Cancer. 2004 Oct 28
To determine whether dietary intake of lycopene and other carotenoids has an association with prostate cancer, a case-control study was conducted in Hangzhou, southeast China during 2001-2002. The cases were 130 incident patients with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The controls were 274 hospital inpatients without prostate cancer or any other malignant diseases. Information on usual food consumption, including vegetables and fruits, was collected by face-to-face interviews using a structured food frequency questionnaire. The risks of prostate cancer for the intake of carotenoids and selected vegetables and fruits rich in carotenoids were assessed. The prostate cancer risk declined with increasing consumption of lycopene, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. Intake of tomatoes, pumpkin, spinach, watermelon and citrus fruits were also inversely associated with the prostate cancer risk. The results suggest that vegetables and fruits rich in lycopene and other carotenoids may be protective against prostate cancer.

Phytoestrogens and prostate cancer
A mix of dietary supplements including antioxidants and plant-based estrogens may slow the rise of a biomarker for prostate cancer progression in some men. The study of 37 men with the disease found that 6 weeks on the supplements generally lowered patients' levels of male sex hormones, which fuel prostate cancer growth, and, in some patients, put the brakes on rising levels of prostate-specific antigen. The current findings are in line with studies of the general population that suggest diets rich in antioxidants and phytoestrogens may lower the risk of prostate cancer. Fruits and vegetables are prime antioxidant sources, while phytoestrogens are found in foods such as soybeans and soy products, whole grains and flaxseed. SOURCE: International Journal of Cancer, February 20, 2005.

Resveratrol as alternative Prostate Cancer treatment
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, gave male mice, on a daily basis, the powerful antioxidant resveratrol, the equivalent of that found in a bottle of red wine. They discovered that the mice were significantly less likely to develop prostate cancer. Mice which were fed resveratrol, but still got cancer, developed less serious tumors. Last year this same team found that female mice given resveratrol had a significantly reduced risk of developing breast cancer.
  Comments: Red wine has about 2 to 3 milligrams of resveratrol per liter (a liter is almost 34 ounces). Most resveratrol supplements on the market have about 10 mg per capsule. For the time being, taking one or two resveratrol supplements a week is fine if you are consuming many other antioxidants on a daily basis. However, if you hardly take any antioxidant supplements, then you can take the resveratrol more frequently.

Soy protein and prostate cancer risk
Soy protein isolate increases urinary estrogens and the ratio of 2:16alpha-hydroxyestrone in men at high risk of prostate cancer.
J Nutr. 2007 Oct;137(10):2258-63.Hamilton-Reeves JM, Rebello SA, Thomas W, Slaton JW, Kurzer MS. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Significantly lower excretion of urinary estradiol (E2) and lower ratio of urinary 2-hydroxy estrogens to 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (2:16 OH-E1) have been reported in prostate cancer cases compared to controls. Soy supplementation has been shown to increase the ratio 2:16 OH-E1 in women. The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of soy protein isolate consumption on estrogen metabolism in men at high risk for developing advanced prostate cancer. Fifty-eight men supplemented their habitual diets with 1 of 3 protein isolates: 1) isoflavone-rich soy protein isolate (SPI+) (107 mg isoflavones / d); 2) alcohol-washed soy protein isolate (SPI-) (<6 mg isoflavones/d); or 3) milk protein isolate (MPI), each providing 40 g protein/d. Both soy groups had higher E2 excretion than the MPI group at 3 and 6 mo. After 6 mo of supplementation, the SPI+ group had a significantly higher urinary 2:16 OH-E1 ratio than the MPI group. Increased urinary E2 excretion and 2:16 OH-E1 ratio in men consuming soy protein isolate are consistent with studies in postmenopausal women and suggest that soy consumption may be beneficial in men at high risk of progressing to advanced prostate cancer as a result of effects on endogenous estrogen metabolism.

Saw Palmetto as alternative Prostate Cancer treatment
Extract from the Saw Palmetto berry, a commonly used herbal supplement taken by men with enlarged prostates, may also have anti-cancer properties, researchers announced at a meeting of The American Society for Cell Biology. "Since we knew that saw palmetto berry extract had some effect on the prostate, we decided to take this a step further. We wanted to know if the saw palmetto had any effect on prostate cancer cells," said researchers at Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. The research team analyzed the effects of saw palmetto berry extract on cancer cells. To accomplish this, they exposed prostate cancer cells and a generic cancer cell line to various concentrations of saw palmetto berry extract. The cancer cell growth in laboratory cell cultures was then monitored. About one-fifth the amount of berry extract was needed to decrease the cell growth of the prostate cancer cells compared to the amount needed to slow down the growth of the generic cancer cells.

Alternative prostate cancer treatment or prevention with vitamins
Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplementation and prostate cancer prevention in the SU.VI.MAX trial.
Int J Cancer. 2005 Mar 30
Randomized trials have shown, unexpectedly, that supplementation with selenium or vitamin E is associated with a reduction of prostate cancer risk. We assess whether a supplementation with low doses of antioxidant vitamins and minerals could reduce the occurrence of prostate cancer and influence biochemical markers. The SU.VI.MAX trial comprised 5,141 men randomized to take either a placebo or a supplementation with nutritional doses of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium and zinc daily for 8 years. Biochemical markers of prostate cancer risk such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) were measured on plasma samples collected at enrollment and at the end of follow-up from 3,616 men. The supplementation had no effect on PSA or IGF levels. Our findings support the hypothesis that chemoprevention of prostate cancer can be achieved with nutritional doses of antioxidant vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin E and prostate cancer
High blood levels of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, seem to cut the risk of prostate cancer by about 50 percent each. The findings are based on an analysis of 100 individuals with prostate cancer and 200 cancer-free "controls" participating in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study, which included nearly 30,000 Finnish men. Men with the highest levels of alpha-tocopherol in their blood at baseline were 51 percent less likely to develop prostate cancer than those with the lowest levels. Similarly, men with the highest levels of gamma-tocopherol were 43 percent less likely to develop the disease compared with men with the lowest levels. Further analysis showed that the link between high tocopherol levels and low cancer risk was stronger among subjects using alpha-tocopherol supplements than among non-users. This supports the original findings from the ATBC study, which showed that daily vitamin E supplementation reduced the risk of prostate cancer by 32 percent. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, March 2, 2005.

Selenium and antioxidants as alternative prostate cancer prevention
Several trials over the past few years have shown that supplementation with selenium or vitamin E is associated with a reduction of prostate cancer risk. In a study, researchers wanted to find out whether supplementation with low doses of several antioxidant vitamins and minerals could reduce the occurrence of prostate cancer. The trial comprised 5,141 men randomized to take either a placebo or a supplementation with nutritional doses of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium and zinc daily for 8 years. Biochemical markers of prostate cancer risk such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) were measured. During the follow-up, 103 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed. Overall, there was a moderate reduction in prostate cancer rate associated with the supplementation. However, the effect differed significantly between men with normal baseline PSA and those with elevated PSA. Among those with normal PSA, there was a significant reduction in the rate of prostate cancer for men receiving the supplements. The researchers say, "Our findings support the hypothesis that chemoprevention of prostate cancer can be achieved with nutritional doses of antioxidant vitamins and minerals."
     There are a number of other supplements that have been studied in relation to prostate cancer prevention or treatment, at least in the laboratory or in mice. These include curcumin (from turmeric), lycopene (found in tomatoes), silymarin (in milk thistle), genistein (in soy), and many others.

Red wine and prostate cancer
Consumption of red wine may reduce the risk of prostate cancer in middle-aged men. Dr. Janet L. Stanford, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and colleagues studied data from 753 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients between 40 and 64 years of age, and from a comparison group of 703 matched "controls" to assess the association between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer. The men with and without prostate cancer completed in-person interviews about lifetime alcohol consumption and other risk factors for prostate cancer. No clear associations were observed between the risk of prostate cancer and overall alcohol consumption, the team reports in published in the International Journal of Cancer. However, "each additional glass of red wine consumed per week showed a statistically significant 6% decrease in relative risk" of prostate cancer, they report.

Prostate Cancer and Alternative Medicine statistics
About one third of prostate cancer patients in the United States use some type of complementary or alternative medicine. Past studies have found that prostate cancer patients often begin taking alternative or complementary medicines after receiving their diagnosis. To investigate more specifically, researchers looked at use of more than 50 different types of complementary or alternative medicines in a group of 2,582 men in a registry of prostate cancer patients. One third reported using some type of alternative medicine, with 26% using mineral or vitamin supplements, 16% taking herbs, 13% taking antioxidants and 12% taking some type of alternative treatment for "prostate health," such as saw palmetto or lycopene. Men using alternative medicine tended to have higher incomes, more education, and more advanced cancer at diagnosis. Alternative medicine users also were more likely to have other illnesses. The men who used alternative treatments targeted to prostate health were younger and less likely to be obese. SOURCE: Urology, December 2005.

Pomegranate juice and prostate cancer treatment
In men with recurrent prostate cancer, drinking 8 ounces per day of pomegranate juice significantly increases the time it takes for an increase in levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), an indicator of prostate cancer. Before the men in the study began consuming pomegranate juice, the average PSA doubling time, a measure of tumor activity, was 15 months. The average time after treatment was 37 months. So, there was almost a 2-year increase in the doubling time. Pomegranate juice contains a number of antioxidants thought to have anti-cancer effects, Pomegranate juice contains estrogen-like plant substances called phytoestrogens that could be useful in combating prostate cancer. Pomegranate juice therapy was well tolerated and no serious adverse effects were reported. In addition to the beneficial increase in PSA doubling time, in vitro testing showed decreased cancer cell division and proliferation and increased cancer cell death. Urine testing confirmed the presence of pomegranate antioxidants in all men. The study was funded by the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Trust, which own the POM Wonderful pomegranate juice company.

Prostate cancer prevention
Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, reduce the intake of white bread, high intake of meats and saturated fat, reduce or eliminate smoking, reduce stress, sleep well, exercise, avoid unnecessary hormone use, particularly androgens, eat more flax and fish oil.
   Greater consumption of dark green and cruciferous vegetables, especially broccoli and cauliflower, is associated with a decreased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Q. Hi I need alternative prostate cancer treatment advice for my father who had prostate cancer diagnosed 3 years ago. He underwent a radical prostectomy and has been having his psa levels checked regularly on his last result he was showing a result of .1, his urologist has recommended a further test in 3 months and then if higher or no change to be referred back to an oncologist for radiotherapy we are not keen on the radiotherapy and would be very grateful if you could suggest alternative prostate cancer treatment but also tips on good and bad foods to eat we have been looking into modified citrus pectin and linseed but there is so many differing opinions.
   A. Some of the natural supplements listed above could be helpful and you can discuss these with your doctor.

Q. I've been reading your information re Prostate Cancer Treatment - Alternative Prostate Cancer treatment. In the paragraph of this page "Prostate Cancer and omega 3 fatty acids", a mention that research that ALA have been linked to the development of prostate cancer. Flax seeds contain alpha lipoic acid. Does that mean that Flax seeds are not recommended.
   A. Not at all, flax seeds appear to be a healthy addition to one's diet, including those with prostate cancer.

Q. I would like to use quercetin supplement to block the receptors on the cells of the prostate cancer as an alternative prostate cancer treatment. Could you suggests a dosage, and any particular brand or products containing quercetin.
   A. Hardly any human studies have been done with quercetin supplements and prostate cancer prevention and treatment, therefore it is not easy to determine the appropriate dosage and whether this supplement is effective as a prostate cancer treatment.


 

Prostate cancer treatment home. This web page on alternative prostate cancer treatment is updated regularly.