Tomatoes Can Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk

Tomatoes can cut the risk of prostate cancer, a new research suggests.

Researchers at the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge and Oxford, found that eating tomatoes reduces prostate cancer risk by 18 percent. For the study, the researchers examined the diet and lifestyle of 1,806 men aged between 50 and 69 with prostate cancer. Their data was compared with 12,005 men without cancer.

Upon proper observation, researchers found that the men who had higher consumption of selenium, calcium and foods rich in lycopene were considerably less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Researchers found that tomatoes and related products such as baked beans and tomato juice were highly beneficial when it came to reducing prostate cancer risk. According to the findings, men who ate more than 10 portions of tomato products a week were 18 percent less likely to develop the cancer.

The theory developed by the researchers states that tomatoes help prevent cancer because they are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that destroys DNA and cell-mutilating toxins.

"Our findings suggest that tomatoes may be important in prostate cancer prevention. However, further studies need to be conducted to confirm our findings, especially through human trials. Men should still eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, maintain a healthy weight and stay active," lead researcher Vanessa Er, from the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol and Bristol Nutrition BRU, said in a press release.

The findings of the study were published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.