20% risk of prostate cancer reduces by tomato-rich diet: Study

Zee Media Bureau

Washington: The risk of developing prostate cancer can lower to 18 percent in those men who take over 10 portions of tomatoes in a week, says a new study.

It is the first study of its kind, to develop a prostate cancer 'dietary index', which consist of dietary components like selenium,calcium and food rich in lycopene.

The study has found that men who had optimal intake of these three dietary components had lower risk of prostate cancer.

Tomatoes and its products like tomato juice and baked beans were shown to be most beneficial. With nearly a 20 percent reduction, in risk of the second most common cancer in men worldwide, was found in men eating over 10 portions of tomatoes a week.

Vanessa Er, lead researcher, says that the findings suggest that tomatoes may be important in prostate cancer prevention. However, studies need to be conducted to confirm the findings, especially through human trials.

She also advised men to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, maintain a healthy weight and stay active to prevent the deadly cancer, and highlighted the need for developing additional dietary recommendations.

The study was published in the medical journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.