Holistic Health Show

Research reported in Cancer Prevention Research online June 19, 2009 stated that consuming a green tea catechin supplement resulted in a reduction in prostate specific antigen (PSA) and other markers that indicate disease progression in men with prostate cancer. A team of researchers at Louisiana State University’s Feist-Weiller Cancer Center reported that 4 capsules of a green tea supplement daily (equivalent to 12 cups of green tea) was given to 26 prostate cancer patients for 12 to 73 days prior to scheduled surgery. Blood samples were collected prior to and the day of surgery showed a reduction in the PSA markers of as much as a 25% decrease. In addition, insulin like-1 that has been associated with a poor prostate cancer prognosis and a liver function tests declined following treatment with green tea suggesting low toxicity from the treatment.
Further research is ongoing with green tea and breast cancer patients and tentative conclusions are that many cancers are preventable and these studies support the idea that plant compounds found in a healthy diet can play a role in the development and progression of cancer.