Men who eat more than 10 portions of tomatoes each week cut risk of contracting the cancer by about 20 per cent, study shows eating tomatoes may lower the risk of prostate cancer, a new study by British scientists has found.
And men who consume more than 10 portions of tomatoes each week reduce their risk of contracting the world's second most-common cancer by about 20 per cent, according to their research. The School of Social and Community Medicine at Bristol University team analysed the diets and lifestyles of around 20,000 British men aged between 50 and 69. They found men who consumed more than 10 portions of tomatoes each week - such as fresh tomatoes, tomato juice and baked beans - saw an 18 per cent reduction in prostate cancer risk. Eating the recommended 5 A DAY was also found to decrease risk by 24 per cent, compared with men who ate two-and-a-half servings or less.
"Our findings suggest that tomatoes may be important in prostate cancer prevention," Vanessa Er, who worked on the study, told BBC News. "However, further studies need to be conducted to confirm our findings, especially through human [clinical] trials. Men should still eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, maintain a healthy weight and stay active." The cancer-fighting properties of tomatoes are thought to be due to lycopene, an antioxidant which can protect against DNA and cell damage. The research, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, was carried out in collaboration with the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.
