Effect of zinc on prostate cancer

There are a growing number of cases of prostrate cancer that are reported these days. So various studies have been conducted to find ways and means to treat and prevent this disease. There have been findings which have suggested that intake of zinc can help to treat prostrate cancer successfully. After seeing this positive sign more research work was done to understand the association between prostate cancer and dietary and supplemental zinc intake. In one such study to evaluate this relationship, 35, 242 men were asked to fill questionnaires regarding dietary and supplemental zinc intake. It was found that this zinc intake did not reduce the risk of prostrate cancer overall. However, it was seen that with greater dietary and supplemental zinc intake, there was a decreased risk of suffering from an advanced stage of prostrate cancer. Therefore, the main findings of this study reflected that dietary and supplemental zinc intake did not have the ability to control prostrate cancer at an early stage but could only help patients who were on an advanced stage of prostrate cancer.

Zinc helps in various cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell division, providing immunity and also provides defense from free radicals. It also helps in stability of genes and their proper functioning. It also protects various components of cells from damage and oxidation. Since zinc is required for the proper functioning of the most elementary parts of life it is recommended that zinc requirements by your body should always be fulfilled. For this you can consume food items which have high zinc content such as seafood, red meat, whole grains and legumes. If you are not able to consume it in its natural form you can even buy dietary and supplemental zinc which is readily available in the markets these days. The age groups which are at the highest risk of zinc deficiency are infants, young children and the elderly.

Various research works conducted on cell culture, humans and animals have now managed to successfully establish a relationship between deficiency of zinc and cancer. So, to maintain a healthy lifestyle free of prostrate cancer one must insure adequate dietary and supplemental zinc intake.