Pomegranate’s anti-prostate cancer potential

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles report that extracts of the fruit were associated with a two-fold suppression in the expression of genes linked to prostate cancer. “This study showed that pomegranate products and their polyphenols reduced tumor cell growth and induced apoptosis in both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells,” wrote the authors in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry “These anti-proliferative effects were also consistent in hormone-treated cells. This implies the potential possibility that pomegranate and its polyphenols are used as novel dietary supplements with maximum potential for androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate chemoprevention.” Pomegranate juice and extracts were supplied by POM Wonderful.

According to the researchers, early stage prostate tumors are dependent on testosterone levels circulating in the blood, but recurrent prostate tumors become unaffected by circulating testosterone levels. The cancer cells themselves can then increase testosterone synthesis, and this is linked to an over-expression of the so-called androgen receptor (AR). Using androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines, Mee Young Hong, Navindra Seeram, and David Heber from UCLA investigated if pomegranate extract and juice had an effect on the expression of genes for key androgen-synthesising enzymes and the androgen receptor. They report that the polyphenols from pomegranate were capable of stopping the spread of both types of cancer, and that the compounds promoted apoptosis (programmed cell death) in the cells. Building the science The study follows similarly positive results from UCLA published in 2006 in the journal Clinical Cancer Research (Vol. 12, pp. 4018-4026). In that instance, 46 men were given eight ounces (227g) of pomegranate juice (Wonderful variety, equivalent to 570 mg of polyphenols) every day, and followed in three-month intervals. The researchers found that the average doubling time increased from an average of 15 months to 54 months for the men drinking the pomegranate juice.

Steve - while exciting research, we must look at with trepidation because POM may have helped fund the study along with providing the source product. Do we believe that pomegranates have incredible health benefits? Yes. However, we must be as critical with natural product companies that fund research as we are with drug companies.