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Flaxseed supplementation (not dietary fat restriction) reduces prostate cancer proliferation rates in men presurgery.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Demark-Wahnefried, W; Polascik, TJ; George, SL; Switzer, BR; Madden, JF; Ruffin, MT; Snyder, DC; Owzar, K; Hars, V; Albala, DM; Walther, PJ ...
Published in: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev
December 2008

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer affects one of six men during their lifetime. Dietary factors are postulated to influence the development and progression of prostate cancer. Low-fat diets and flaxseed supplementation may offer potentially protective strategies. METHODS: We undertook a multisite, randomized controlled trial to test the effects of low-fat and/or flaxseed-supplemented diets on the biology of the prostate and other biomarkers. Prostate cancer patients (n = 161) scheduled at least 21 days before prostatectomy were randomly assigned to one of the following arms: (a) control (usual diet), (b) flaxseed-supplemented diet (30 g/d), (c) low-fat diet (<20% total energy), or (d) flaxseed-supplemented, low-fat diet. Blood was drawn at baseline and before surgery and analyzed for prostate-specific antigen, sex hormone-binding globulin, testosterone, insulin-like growth factor-I and binding protein-3, C-reactive protein, and total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Tumors were assessed for proliferation (Ki-67, the primary endpoint) and apoptosis. RESULTS: Men were on protocol an average of 30 days. Proliferation rates were significantly lower (P < 0.002) among men assigned to the flaxseed arms. Median Ki-67-positive cells/total nuclei ratios (x100) were 1.66 (flaxseed-supplemented diet) and 1.50 (flaxseed-supplemented, low-fat diet) versus 3.23 (control) and 2.56 (low-fat diet). No differences were observed between arms with regard to side effects, apoptosis, and most serologic endpoints; however, men on low-fat diets experienced significant decreases in serum cholesterol (P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that flaxseed is safe and associated with biological alterations that may be protective for prostate cancer. Data also further support low-fat diets to manage serum cholesterol.

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Published In

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev

DOI

ISSN

1055-9965

Publication Date

December 2008

Volume

17

Issue

12

Start / End Page

3577 / 3587

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Preoperative Care
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Flax
  • Epidemiology
  • Dietary Supplements
 

Citation

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Demark-Wahnefried, W., Polascik, T. J., George, S. L., Switzer, B. R., Madden, J. F., Ruffin, M. T., … Vollmer, R. T. (2008). Flaxseed supplementation (not dietary fat restriction) reduces prostate cancer proliferation rates in men presurgery. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 17(12), 3577–3587. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0008
Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy, Thomas J. Polascik, Stephen L. George, Boyd R. Switzer, John F. Madden, Mack T. Ruffin, Denise C. Snyder, et al. “Flaxseed supplementation (not dietary fat restriction) reduces prostate cancer proliferation rates in men presurgery.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 17, no. 12 (December 2008): 3577–87. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0008.
Demark-Wahnefried W, Polascik TJ, George SL, Switzer BR, Madden JF, Ruffin MT, et al. Flaxseed supplementation (not dietary fat restriction) reduces prostate cancer proliferation rates in men presurgery. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Dec;17(12):3577–87.
Demark-Wahnefried, Wendy, et al. “Flaxseed supplementation (not dietary fat restriction) reduces prostate cancer proliferation rates in men presurgery.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, vol. 17, no. 12, Dec. 2008, pp. 3577–87. Pubmed, doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0008.
Demark-Wahnefried W, Polascik TJ, George SL, Switzer BR, Madden JF, Ruffin MT, Snyder DC, Owzar K, Hars V, Albala DM, Walther PJ, Robertson CN, Moul JW, Dunn BK, Brenner D, Minasian L, Stella P, Vollmer RT. Flaxseed supplementation (not dietary fat restriction) reduces prostate cancer proliferation rates in men presurgery. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Dec;17(12):3577–3587.

Published In

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev

DOI

ISSN

1055-9965

Publication Date

December 2008

Volume

17

Issue

12

Start / End Page

3577 / 3587

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Prostatic Neoplasms
  • Preoperative Care
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Flax
  • Epidemiology
  • Dietary Supplements