prostate dangers

Prostate Tumor Growth May Stop With Flaxseed
Durham, NC—Duke University Medical Center scientists say flaxseed may stunt the growth Of prostate tumors by stopping the process that causes irregular cell division.
Some 160 men who were scheduled for prostatectomies to treat prostate cancer were di-vided evenly into four groups one month before the surgery and given either ground flaxseed (31g), ground flaxseed plus a low-fat diet, a normal diet, or only a low-fat diet. After the procedure, the researchers examined the tumor cells to see how fast the cancer cells multiplied.
Tumors from the flaxseed groups grew more slowly than the control group or the only low-fat diet group: tumors in the flaxseed with low-fat diet group grew the slowest. The researchers suggested that flaxseed may change how cancer cells "lump together" and may cut off the tumor's blood supply.

Antioxidants in Fruits Are Not Alike
Washington, D.C.—A study conducted by U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers is adding to the antioxidant absorption question. The study examined the antioxidant status of volunteers from the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center before and after the consumption of different fruits.
Volunteers were divided into five studies and were given blueberries, grapes, kiwifruit, straw-berries, cherries and dried plums. Researcher accessed the antioxidant capacity (AOC) measured as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (OR AC).
Although plums have a high antioxidant capacity, it did not raise AOC plasma levels. This effect, the researchers said, was because plums contain chlorogenic acid, a phytochemical not easily absorbed by humans. Blueberries elevated AOC levels, but only after a significantly large serving was taken (a hall-cap serving). Eating grapes and kiwi also elevated AOC levels, but the authors were not sure which compounds were responsible for the effect.
The study concludes that certain berries and fruits will have better absorption into the body, but additional studies are needed.