Cocktail of vitamin with C, D and zinc among new research showing benefits for prostate health

Vitamin with C, D and zinc also play key roles in maintaining the immune system and lessening the impact of …

According to research published in the journal The Aging Male in February of 2022, several supplements have been found to help promote prostate health. It outlined eight specifically: vitamin with C, D and zinc, beta carotene, lutein, lycopene, flaxseed extract, and omega-3s.

Issues with the prostate — the small gland that sits under the bladder, in front of the rectum, and aids in the production of semen — are common in men who are over the age of 50 according to the National Institute on Aging. Problems often encountered by this age group include non-cancerous issues such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, also known as enlarged prostate) and bacterial prostatitis, along with prostate cancer.

Vitamin with C, D and zinc also play key roles in maintaining the immune system and lessening the impact of COVID-19 due to antioxidant properties.

Vitamin D and C

Vitamin D is known for its role in bone strength, along with bolstering the immune system. Some studies have also connected deficiency of this vitamin with increased odds that a patient will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis. Subjects with a severe deficiency also tend to have a higher Gleason score (which indicates cell abnormality and the likelihood of cancer progressing) and tumor stage.

Vitamin C helps protect our bodies from free radicals. Like vitamin D, it also plays a role in immune system function. A meta-analysis of 18 studies involving a total of 103,658 subjects found an inverse relationship between vitamin C intake and prostate cancer risk, particularly if vitamin intake fell below 150 mg per day.

Zinc

Zinc is important for immunity, also aiding in growth and development. A 2020 review in Frontiers in Oncology shares that decreased zinc status is associated with an increased risk of BPH. Research in the Archives of Ophthalmology adds that zinc has been found to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells, potentially by inhibiting nuclear factor κB.

Beta carotene

Beta carotene (β-carotene) is one of the most common carotenoids in the American diet. This nutrient helps boost immunity while protecting against disease. It can also be converted to retinol, making it a provitamin A carotenoid. It is through this conversion, at least in part, that past research has connected high intakes of beta carotene with a reduced risk of prostate cancer. It also helps modulate prostate cancer cell growth.

Lutein and Lycopene

Lutein is another carotenoid. Although, unlike beta carotene, it cannot be converted to retinol, making it a non-provitamin A carotenoid. Research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food indicates that lutein helps support prostate health by modulating the growth of prostate cancer cells. It even appears to impact prostate cancer cell genes associated with survival.

Lycopene is a non-provitamin A carotenoid with antioxidant properties, and it is primarily stored in the prostate, liver, and adrenals. A case-control study involving 652 participants found that as the subjects’ intake of lycopene increased, their risk of prostate cancer decreased. Results were published in the journal Nutrients in January 2018.

Flaxseed extract and omega-3 fatty acids

Flaxseed is high in both fiber and protein. While some studies have reported that it can help with cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes, others suggest that it also offers benefits for prostate health. For instance, one study involving 161 subjects with prostate cancer who were scheduled for a prostatectomy (removal of all or part of the prostate gland) found that men taking a flaxseed supplement had significantly lower proliferation rates than those in the control group or subjects following a low-fat diet.

Omega-3s are good for improving cardiovascular health, such as by helping to lower blood pressure and reduce triglyceride levels. Research on their effectiveness for lowering prostate cancer risk is mixed, with some studies suggesting that high omega-3 intake is associated with an increased risk of this cancer type.

Various researchers have challenged this assertion, such as one article in Pharmacy and Therapeutics which contends that although certain studies had found a correlation between omega-3 intake and prostate cancer risk, this does not mean that it is a causal factor. Plus, several other studies have found no such correlation, so more research is needed to know for sure.

A cocktail of vitamin with C, D and zinc — and more

Vitamin with C, D and zinc, beta carotene, lutein, lycopene, flaxseed extract, and omega-3s warrant further consideration by doctors, and patients seeking advice for increased prostate health and protection.