Prostate Cancer Prevention
Daily Green Tea Stops 90% Of Tumors*

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This is Part 1 of a 3-part series.

Prostate cancer prevention is the best hope for most men

Prostate cancer currently claims 80% of men by the time they are 80 years old.

But because it can take decades to develop, men have the opportunity to choose prostate cancer prevention strategies.

*Green tea prevents 90% of prostate cancer

Researchers in Italy studied 60 volunteers with high cancer risk who had tested positive on biopsy for high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-PIN). PIN is a prostate cancer test that has become an accepted sign of premalignancy. Men who have a positive biopsy for PIN are considered at high risk for prostate cancer.

The volunteers were divided into two matched groups and took either 3 capsules (200 mg. each for 600 mg. daily) of green tea daily for one year or a placebo daily for one year (Bettuzzi, 2006).

The research results showed:

• 90% prevention of prostate cancer with green tea
• No side effects

At the end of the year, only one man in the green tea group had developed a tumor while nine men in the placebo group developed tumors. These results of 90% prevention of prostate cancer were statistically significant, although conclusions are considered preliminary.

No side effects with daily green tea

In the green tea group, International Prostate Symptom Scores improved significantly, urinary tract symptoms improved, and there were no side effects.

The annual cost of daily green tea is estimated at $120.

Drugs that only prevent up to 25% of prostate cancer

The recent Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (NCI, 2003), studied finasteride, a drug currently approved for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Researchers tested finasteride for prostate cancer prevention with 18,882 men for approximately 7 years. They studied only men who were low risk by testing negative for prostate cancer.

The results showed that finasteride prevented 25% of prostate cancer with side effects including impotence, loss of libido, as well as an increase in aggressive high grade prostate cancer.

The annual cost of daily finasteride is estimated at $800-$1200.

In a different study, a 12 year follow-up found that daily aspirin for more than five years was associated with a 20% prevention of prostate cancer. (Jacobs, 2007)

Side effects from daily aspirin can include gastrointestinal bleeding.

Green tea works in many ways

While these results are considered preliminary, other studies on prostate cancer prevention show similar results. Almost 80 studies on green tea (Camellia sinensis) and prostate cancer have shown that green tea kills cancer cells through apoptosis, prevents cancer adhesion, prevents cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis, prevents DNA damage from free radicals, and protects normal cells. Many positive results have been attributed to EGCG, epi-gallocatechin gallate, the primary polyphenol catechin antioxidant in green tea.

Start prevention strategies now

Take advantage of regular early testing , especially if you are in a high risk group (African-American, over age 55, family history of prostate cancer).

Discussions with your health care provider should include safe and inexpensive lifestyle changes such as daily green tea and low fat diets (check this list of high saturated fat food).

Related articles:

Continue to Part 2--Prostate cancer prevention research summaries

Continue to Part 3--Prostate cancer research on green tea and soybean in the diet

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