In a study on 47,894 subjects it was found that higher intakes of foods
rich in the carotenoid lycopene (mainly tomato products) were associated with
lower rates of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 87(23):1767-76,
1995.
Isoflavonoid (plant oestrogen) levels in blood samples were compared in
Japanese and Finnish men. Levels were 7-110 times higher in the Japanese men.
since isoflavones, which are found in soya products, inhibit the growth of
several types of hormone-dependent cancer cells, the authors conclude that a
life-long high intake of soya products may explain why prostate cancer is rare
in Japanese men. Lancet 342:1209-10, 1993.
While cadmium stimulates prostate growth, selenium inhibits this effect of
cadmium. Webber MM: Selenium prevents the growth stimulatory effects of
cadmium on human prostatic epithelium. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 127(3):871-7,
1985.