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High fibre diet 'may protect against the progression of prostate cancer'
January 10, 2013
Research has revealed that a high fibre diet may be effective for reducing the size of prostate cancer tumours
A high fibre diet appears to be efficient in preventing the progression of early diagnosis of prostate cancer.
According to the NHS, prostate cancer accounts for 25 percent of all-newly diagnosed cases of cancer in men, affecting up to 36,000 males each year.
A study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research set out to discover why prostate cancer tends to progress in Western men but not those from Asia.
Initially it was believed a genetic factor played a role, but now it appears to be down to the levels of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), which is a major component of high fibre diets.
Research carried out on mice showed a dramatic reduction in tumour volumes that scientists claimed was down to the anti-angiogenic effects of IP6.
The active ingredient in high fibre diets seems to prevent prostate tumours from making new blood vessels that supply the cancer with the energy it needs to grow, the study explained.
It was also discovered that IP6 slowed the rate at which the prostate cancers metabolised glucose, with Dr Komal Raina concluding: "Asian cultures get IP6 whereas Western cultures generally do not."
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