| Although the survival rate of five years | | | | double demonstrates the rate of growth |
| for men with prostate cancer has | | | | of the cancer. So in general, PSA rises |
| increased from 67% in the 1970s to 90% | | | | slowly as it matches the fact that |
| in recent years, prostate cancer is | | | | prostate cancer is a slow-growing |
| still the United State's most common | | | | cancer. In this study, each patient had |
| cancer, aside from skin cancer, and the | | | | a minimum of three pretreatment PSA |
| second leading cause of cancer-related | | | | values measured over a minimum of six |
| death in men. The primary method of | | | | months before they entered the study. |
| management for this disease is either | | | | Each patient was treated with eight |
| radical surgery or radiation therapy. In | | | | ounces of pomegranate juice, by mouth, |
| this study, researchers sought to | | | | daily until the disease progressed. The |
| determine whether pomegranate juice | | | | patients showed a fifteen percent |
| consumption would have an effect on PSA | | | | reduction in resistance of their serum |
| (prostate-specific antigen) progression | | | | samples, a twelve percent decrease in |
| in patients who have undergone primary | | | | cell proliferation, a seventeen percent |
| management to cure the disease, as those | | | | increase in apoptosis reduction in |
| patients who have had primary management | | | | oxidative state, and a twenty-three |
| to cure the disease and no documented | | | | percent increase in serum nitric oxide |
| evidence of metastatic disease have | | | | was also reported. No serious |
| limited treatment options. The | | | | side-effects were reported and the |
| pomegranate fruit, which has been used | | | | treatment was well tolerated by its |
| for centuries for its medicinal | | | | patients. The researches concluded that |
| purposes, shows potent antioxidant and | | | | this study showed significant results |
| anti-artherosclerotic properties which | | | | that pomegranate juice had many positive |
| are accredited to its high content of | | | | effects on those men dealing with |
| polyphenols. To study the possible | | | | prostate cancer. However, the |
| effects of pomegranate juice, | | | | researchers feel that further research |
| researchers conducted a 2-year clinical | | | | is needed to prove the validity of the |
| trial at the Clark Urologic Center, | | | | tests. The results are being further |
| David Geffen School of Medicine at the | | | | tested in another study which began in |
| University of California in Los Angeles. | | | | April of 2006. The ability of |
| Those patients who were eligible has a | | | | pomegranate juices doses to produce |
| detectable PSA between 0.2 and 5 ng/mL, | | | | predefined alteration in PSA kinetics is |
| no hormonal therapy before entering the | | | | being compared to the change observed in |
| study, no evidence of metastatic | | | | the control group in this new study. The |
| disease, and a Gleason score less than | | | | results demonstrated from this study are |
| or equal to seven. The Gleason test is | | | | positive and there will be further |
| used to grade the severity of prostate | | | | research into other plant polyphenols |
| cancer based on the five patterns that | | | | which could possibly mediate similar |
| prostate tumor cells go through as they | | | | effects. So don't forget to have your |
| change from normal cells. PSA, which is | | | | pomegranate or herbal tea high in |
| an antigen in the blood that is measured | | | | polyphenols. |
| to track the progression of prostate | | | | Please visit VitaNet health foods where |
| cancer, usually signifies presence or | | | | a large selection of Pomegranate can be |
| growth of cancer when it is elevated. | | | | found in extracts and concentrates. |
| The time that is required for the PSA to | | | | |