Environmental Health Note/Eat the Whole Tomato
Living on Earth's Diane Toomey reports on a new study that shows a supplement used to prevent prostate cancer may not be effective. But these researchers did find that the food it comes from, the tomato, may be beneficial.
CURWOOD: Just ahead: how humans came to understand that we are changing the planet’s climate. First, this Environmental Health Note from Diane Toomey.
[HEALTH NOTE THEME]
TOOMEY: Recent studies show that increased consumption of tomato products reduces the risk of prostate cancer. Some think that lycopene, an antioxidant in tomatoes, is responsible for this effect. Many American men take lycopene supplements to prevent or inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. But a recent study shows that simply taking a pill might not the answer.
Researchers at Ohio State University fed different diets to rats that had been treated to development prostate cancer. One group received tomato powder in their food. Another group got lycopene supplements, and a third was fed a diet without supplementation. Researchers found that the tomato-fed rats experienced a significant delay in the development of their cancer. Overall, their risk of dying with prostate cancer over the 14 month study period was reduced by 26 percent. But there was no benefit for the group that received lycopene.
Researchers think there must be other components in tomato that inhibit cancer growth or that lycopene needs to act in concert with them. Researchers also divided the rats into two subgroups – with one put on a low calorie diet. Regardless of what was in the diet, the low calorie group had a reduced cancer risk - giving further weight to studies that show exercise and lower body mass may protect against prostate cancer. That’s this week’s Health Note. I’m Diane Toomey.
CURWOOD: And you're listening to Living on Earth.
[MUSIC UP AND OUT ]
[MUSIC: Radiohead “Treefingers” KID A (EMI Records-2000)]
Living on Earth wants to hear from you!
P.O. Box 990007
Boston, MA, USA 02199
Newsletter [Click here]
Donate to Living on Earth!
Living on Earth is an independent media program and relies entirely on contributions from listeners and institutions supporting public service. Please donate now to preserve an independent environmental voice.
Sailors For The Sea: Be the change you want to sea.
Innovating to make the world a better, more sustainable place to live. Listen to the race to 9 billion
The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment: Committed to protecting and improving the health of the global environment.
Energy Foundation: Serving the public interest by helping to build a strong, clean energy economy.
Contribute to Living on Earth and receive, as our gift to you, an archival print of one of Mark Seth Lender's extraordinary wildlife photographs. Follow the link to see Mark's current collection of photographs.
Buy a signed copy of Mark Seth Lender's book Smeagull the Seagull & support Living on Earth