How to Lower PSA Levels Naturally
Certain foods and habits have been shown to support a healthy prostate and reduce the risk of prostate cancer. But these tips are not just for men.
Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N, CNS
Listen
How to Lower PSA Levels Naturally
I got an email this week from Ian, who wrote:
“I was diagnosed with low grade prostate cancer this year. I started taking a supplement called Pomi-T based on its Amazon ratings and amazing reviews for PSA reduction. It’s just broccoli, pomegranate, turmeric and green tea extract. Any thoughts on this supplement?”
As I wrote to Ian, when it comes to assessing the effectiveness of a medical intervention, I wouldn’t put a whole lot of stock in Amazon reviews! But in this case, there is no need to rely on customer ratings because this particular supplement is backed up by at least one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial—which I’ll discuss in a moment. First, just a little context.
How Common Is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men (not counting skin cancer), but most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. Part of that is because prostate cancer can often be detected quite early through regular screening tests, which include testing the blood for the presence of Prostate Specific Antigen, or PSA. An elevated PSA will usually trigger more tests and if prostate cancer is confirmed, PSA levels are also used to monitor the progression of the disease.
The other reason that most men with prostate cancer do not die from it is that many prostate cancers are relatively slow-growing. In fact, sometimes doctors will recommend simply monitoring that PSA score and not taking any drastic measures unless it starts to increase.
A Healthy Diet Improves Your Odds
Although avoiding surgery or radiation is a relief for many men, the “watching waiting” or “active surveillance” can be a little nerve-wracking. Many men look for things they might be able to do to improve their odds.
And, in fact, research has found that men who adopt healthier diets following a prostate cancer diagnosis can often slow the progression of the disease and improve their prognosis. There are a few foods in particular that have shown promising effects, both in lowering the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and in slowing the progression of prostate cancer.
Foods that Fight Prostate Cancer
Tomatoes, for example, are rich in an antioxidant called lycopene, which seems to have a particular affinity for the prostate. Tomato and lycopene intake have been linked with lower prostate cancer risk and, for those with prostate cancer, lower PSA levels. Cooked tomato products, such as tomato paste and tomato sauce are much higher in absorbable lycopene than raw tomatoes. Absorption is also enhanced by the addition of a little fat. (Olive oil, I’m looking at you!)
Surprisingly, the supplement that Ian found online did not contain any lycopene. But it does feature four other food concentrates with some research backing them. Pomegranate juice has been found to slow the rise of PSA levels in men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Green tea extract has also been shown to have beneficial effects on PSA levels. Extracts from broccoli and turmeric have also shown promise as anti-cancer agents.
Pomegranate juice, broccoli, turmeric, and green tea are all nutritious foods with lots of potential health benefits. Including more of these foods in your diet is a great idea—even if you don’t have elevated PSA levels (or don’t have a prostate at all!)
But these four ingredients have been also combined into a dietary supplement, which was evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in over 200 men with prostate cancer who were not currently pursuing other treatments. And the results were quite encouraging—although perhaps not quite what the Amazon reviews might lead you to expect.
Most of the study subjects did not see “amazing” reductions in their PSA scores. About half of the men taking the supplement either had no increase or a slight decrease in their PSA scores after six months. But for those whose PSA scores did go up, the increase was significantly less than those who were taking the placebo. Scores in the treatment were on average just 15% higher after six months vs. almost 80% higher in the placebo group. That’s a big deal!
Imaging confirmed that the lower PSA scores corresponded with less disease progression. It’s also worth noting that these four ingredients do not appear to work through hormonal pathways or have any impact on the body’s hormone levels.The supplement was also found to be safe and well-tolerated.
The supplement that you can buy online, called Pomi-T, is exactly the same thing that they used in this study—but the dosage used in the study was three capsules per day, as opposed to the two capsules per day recommended on the package.
If you are being monitored for prostate cancer, I would definitely run this past your physician. (Here’s a link to the study if you’d like to share it with him or her.) But with your doctor’s blessing, this could be a very reasonable part of a watchful waiting protocol. Based on the research so far, it can’t hurt and it may well help.
Healthy Lifestyle for a Healthy Prostate
But taking these plant extracts in pill form shouldn’t take the place of upgrading your nutrition and lifestyle, in general! A clinical trial that is currently underway suggests the following for men with prostate cancer, based on previous research:
- Be sure your diet includes plenty of whole fruits and vegetables (at least five servings a day).
- Eat less meat and more legumes, which may slow the progress of the disease.
- Consider replacing cow’s milk (which some studies have linked to higher prostate cancer risk) with soy milk, which has been linked to reduction in risk.
- Get at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (such as very brisk walking) at least five days a week.
Come to think of it, that sounds like good advice for all of us! (And if you could use a little support in upgrading your nutrition, my next 30 Day Nutrition Upgrade is starting in just a few days and can help you make sustainable healthy changes to your eating habits.)
Comments? Questions? Ideas for future podcast episodes? Post them in the comments below or on the Nutrition Diva Facebook page, where I also host regular live Q&A sessions. Just check the Events tab for the schedule or the Videos tab to watch past sessions. Image of tomatoes © Shutterstock.
About the Author
Monica Reinagel is a board-certified licensed nutritionist, author, and the creator of one of iTunes’ most highly ranked health and fitness podcasts. Her advice is regularly featured on the TODAY show, Dr. Oz, NPR, and in the nation’s leading newspapers, magazines, and websites. Do you have a nutrition question? Call the Nutrition Diva listener line at 443-961-6206. Your question could be featured on the show.