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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.

Duke Scholars

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

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