Planting Seeds Back in April I told you about a Rutgers University study that found that the combination of cruciferous vegetables and turmeric significantly reduced tumor growth in laboratory mice (Health eTip from 4/3/06, subject line: "Hot stuff"). Cruciferous vegetables contain a chemical called phenethyl isothiocyanate, which researchers found could slow the growth of prostate cancer cells. Combined with turmeric, the duo offers antioxidant protection against even advanced prostate cancer. Now a study from Sweden says that a diet rich in plant-based estrogens called lignans could by 26 percent. The study compared the dietary intake of lignans in 1,499 men with prostate cancer to the lignan intake of 1,130 healthy men. The researchers evaluated the information based on food frequency questionnaires and blood samples taken from some of the subjects to measure levels of serum enterolactone, a metabolite of lignans. They found a significant relationship between high blood levels of enterolactone and reduced prostate cancer risk. Lignans are found in flaxseed, linseed, sunflower seeds, peanuts, beans, soy, berries, and broccoli (which also doubles as a cruciferous vegetable). Therapy for Raynaud's disease Q: My daughter has Raynaud's disease. What do you recommend for people suffering from this condition? JVW: For those who may not know, Raynaud's disease is characterized by spasms in the smaller arteries of the fingers and toes. These spasms are often triggered by cold or allergies, but sometimes they happen for no reason at all. The condition causes the skin to turn chalky white and to sting, or feel numb or cold. Intravenous magnesium therapy can lessen the degree of symptoms significantly. It usually takes more than one treatment, and it has to be done with the help of a physician, nurse, or other individual skilled in IV therapy, but it can bring about much needed relief for this uncomfortable condition. What are...lignans? Lignans are phytoestrogens with a chemical makeup similar to human estrogen. Although lignans are found in flaxseed, there is one note of caution you should be aware of: The lignans in flaxseed are concentrated in the outer shell of the seeds. So when the seeds are refined into oil, only a trace of the lignans ends up in the finished product. This process dramatically increases the concentration of alpha-linolenic acid or ALA. Men who have an elevated risk of prostate cancer should avoid large quantities of ALA because it can potentially increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. Men in this category should not consume flaxseed oil. Although the whole flaxseed does contain some ALA, the quantity is generally considered too low to be harmful.
Sources:
"Dietary phytoestrogen, serum enterolactone and risk of prostate cancer: the cancer prostate Sweden study (Sweden)," Cancer Causes Control 2006; 17(2): 169-180
"Combined Inhibitory Effects of Curcumin and Phenethyl Isothiocyanate on the Growth of Human PC-3 Prostate Xenografts in Immunodeficient Mice," Cancer Research 2006; 66: 613-621
"Dietary Intake of N-3 and N-6 fatty Acids and the Risk of Prostate Cancer," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2004; 80(1): 204-216
| 
