Soy a big part of diet as men eat to beat prostate cancerDate Posted: 6/28/2001Europe Intelligence Wire: STATISTICS show that more and more men have beendiagnosed with prostate cancer over the past 20 years.The disease is now the second most common cause of cancer death in the UKand will be the biggest by 2004.Yet, despite the gloomy statistics, there is hope. Mounting evidencesuggests the risk of prostate cancer is closely linked to what we eat.This month, research published in the medical journal The Lancet foundthat men who consume plenty of oily fish enjoy a lowered risk of prostatecancer compared to those who don't. Other research points to protectiveeffects from fruit, vegetables and soya products.In addition, while some foods appear to reduce the risk of prostatecancer, others seem to have the opposite effect. Foods rich in animal fat,particularly dairy products, have been implicated.Research is stacking up to suggest that with a few simple adjustments tothe diet, men can reduce their risk of developing this increasingly commoncondition.Oily fish such as salmon, trout, tuna, mackerel and herring are rich inhealthy fats known as omega-3 fatty acids These are thought to have anumber of important health-giving effects, including a naturalanti-inflammatory action and the ability to reduce the risk of heartdisease and depression.Over the past decade, there has been increasing scientific interest in therole omega-3 fatty acids may have in the prevention of cancers. Recently,research has focused on the link with prostate cancer.Two studies published in 1999 found that a high level of omega-3 fats inthe body was associated with a reduced risk.This association is strengthened by research which found that men eatingmoderate or high amounts of oily fish were up to three times less likelyto develop prostate cancer compared to those who ate none. So men might dowell to consume at least two or three portions of oily fish a week.Furthermore, a 1998 study associated high consumption of dairy productswith a 50pc rise in prostate cancer risk. Another study, published lastyear, found that men consuming 21/2 servings of dairy products a dayincreased their prostate cancer risk by more than 40pc.ALTERNATIVES to cow's milk-based dairy products include soya milk, soyayoghurt and soya ice cream. Soya consumption is associated with asignificantly reduced risk of prostate cancer.One study found that men consuming soya milk more than once a day had a70pc reduction in risk of developing this disease.Cancer is known to be triggered, at least in part, by damaging moleculesknown as 'Free radicals'. Free radical damage can be reduced throughincreased consumption of 'Antioxidant' nutrients in the diet, such asvitamins C and E, beta-carotene and the mineral selenium.Antioxidants are generally abundant in fruit and vegetables. Last year, astudy published in the Journal Of The National Cancer Institute found thatmen consuming four servings of vegetables a day had a 35 pc reduced riskof prostate cancer compared to those consuming two servings a day.One nutrient which has received special attention is the trace mineralselenium.A study in the Journal Of The National Cancer Institute in 1998 found thatmen with the highest level of selenium had one-third the risk ofdeveloping prostate cancer compared to men with the lowest seleniumlevels.In 1996, a study found that men who took a daily supplement of 200mcg ofselenium had a significantly reduced risk of prostate cancer. One of therichest natural sources of selenium is brazil nuts. However, taking asupplement is prudent for men who want to reduce their risk.by DR JOHN BRIFFA