Prostate cancer is a serious form of cancer that is currently affecting one out of every six males. It is estimated that more than 200,000 new cases will be reported in 2009, and that nearly 29,000 deaths will occur, according to the American Cancer Society.
Since nearly 1 in 35 men will die from this disease, finding a means of prevention is vital. Researchers are studying a variety of different potential treatments, including the effect that natural foods may have on the disease.
History
When the Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, at the University of Leicester, Leicester, UK, released a study that showed rice bran could reduce the risk of intestinal cancer by up to 51 percent in mice, it was hoped that the same effects would also be true for other kinds of cancer, namely prostate cancer.
During the study, mice were fed a diet that consisted of 30 percent rice bran, which contains up to 29 percent fiber. It was found that the bran reduced the chance of developing adenomas in the stomach and large intestine.
Significance
This study was very significant in proving a link between rice bran and reducing the risk of developing certain cancers. However, the team was unable to replicate the effects with other cancers, namely breast and prostate cancer.
Further research will be conducted, but at this time, it is uncertain whether or not rice bran will have any long-term effects against prostate cancer.
Effects
In order for humans to see the same benefits in a reduction of the risk of stomach and intestinal cancer, the amount of rice bran that would need to be consumed daily translates to around 200 grams.
It is well-known that fiber, particularly soluble fiber, can reduce cancer risks, and researchers in the study also believe that the antioxidants in the bran may also help reduce these risks.
Theories/Speculation
Since rice bran is rich in antioxidants, it is speculated that there could be at least some benefit in reducing the risk of prostate cancer in the future. A diet rich in antioxidants and soluble fiber has been recommended by many physicians as a part of cancer prevention.
Potential
Although this study did not have the hoped-for result for those who are concerned about developing prostate cancer, it did prove the link between soluble fiber as well as antioxidants in the reduction of cancer.
More research is being conducted that should shed light on other natural means of preventing cancer of the prostate, and the long-term effects are still being studied.
Does this study mean that rice bran definitively will not protect against prostate cancer? While it appears that there is no direct link, there are still many indirect health benefits from eating a diet rich in soluble fiber.
Tags: prostate cancer, rice bran, soluble fiber, diet rich, intestinal cancer