'Superfoods' shown to fight prostate cancer

Pomegranate, green tea, turmeric and broccoli have demonstrated multiple anti-cancer effects in laboratory tests. Photo / File

Scientists have discovered how a handful of so called "superfoods" can help fight prostate cancer.

Broccoli and pomegranate have been scientifically proven to help combat the disease, along with the spice tumeric and green tea.

The groundbreaking findings were presented at a cancer conference in Chicago, after a six month trial.

It involved 203 men with prostate cancer, and showed that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels of those who took a capsule containing essence of pomegranate, green tea, turmeric and broccoli were 63 per cent lower than those who did not.

The PSA is a level of the protein produced by the prostate gland which is an indicator of prostate cancer.

Although polyphenol-rich foods such as pomegranate, green tea, turmeric and broccoli have demonstrated multiple anti-cancer effects in laboratory tests, and small non-randomised studies, this is the first time they have firmly established an influence on markers of cancer progression within a scientifically robust evaluation.

Professor Robert Thomas, a consultant oncologist at Addenbrooke and Bedford hospitals, said: "Our experience in offering high-quality clinical care, collaboration with cancer charities and world-class research with the University has resulted in findings which will have an world-wide impact.

"We hope this will help millions of men to help combat the onset of prostate cancer."

"Healthy eating and lifestyle is the main way of helping to combat the development of cancer but men can now also turn to a whole food supplement which has been shown to work."

The men in the trial were split into two groups - those who took the capsule and those who took a placebo.

As well as the large clinical effect on PSA, the study also showed there were virtually no adverse effects and significantly fewer men proceeded to potentially toxic therapies at the end of the study.

- AAP