Antioxidant vitamins and the development of prostate cancer
A new report suggests that the antioxidant vitamins C and E appear to counteract some of the negative effects of male hormones (androgens) on prostate cells linked to the development of prostate cancer.
* researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison treated two prostate cancer cell lines, one of which was androgen sensitive, with R1881, a synthetic male hormone, by itself and in the presence of the antioxidant vitamins C and E to collect data.
* found that androgen-sensitive cells had up to a 57% reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) if they were treated with both R1881 and the vitamins, compared to cells treated with R1881 alone (note: ROS are DNA-damaging particles that are thought to play a role in tumor development and aging.)
* researchers say that the findings suggest that androgens stimulate ROS production and DNA damage.
* authors conclude that antioxidants such as vitamins C and E may reduce androgen-related production of reactive oxygen species and that the findings may help to explain why previous have found that vitamin E supplements can reduce prostate cancer mortality in smokers and other antioxidants can reduced prostate cancer risk