(NaturalNews) A UCLA study of pomegranate juice suggests it can have a beneficial effect on prostate cancer in humans.
The study, funded by a pomegranate juice manufacturer, tested men's levels of prostate-specific antigens (PSAs), a chemical produced by prostate cancer cells, and measured how long it took the PSAs to double in each patient. The men who drank a glass of pomegranate juice daily showed a doubling time of 54 months on average, as opposed to the standard average of 15 months, meaning that pomegranate juice slowed the growth of prostate cancer tumors to less than one-third the typical rate.
The participants showed suppressed PSA levels despite the fact that they were only drinking pomegranate juice, and not supplementing the drink with costly prescription drugs or prohibitively expensive conventional cancer treatments.
"We are hoping we may be able to prevent or delay the need for other therapies usually used in this population, such as hormone treatment or chemotherapy, both of which bring with them harmful side effects," lead researcher Dr Allan Pantuck said.
Pantuck added that many substances in the juice could be prompting the positive response, as it is known to have anti-inflammatory effects and also protects the body from cell damaging particles known as free radicals due to a high level of antioxidants.
"We don't know if it's one magic bullet or the combination of everything we know is in this juice," Pantuck said. "My guess is that it's probably a combination of elements, rather than a single component."
Despite these impressive findings, pomegranate juice is unlikely to ever be heavily promoted for prostate cancer, since it cannot be patented. Drug companies, pharmacies and hospitals make money on patented chemicals, not natural fruit juices, so there's no financial incentive to publicize or prescribe pomegranate juice, even when it's more effective than cancer drugs.
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