Allium Vegetables and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Study

Abstract

Epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggest that allium vegetables and garlic constituents have antitumor effects. In a population-based, case-control study conducted in Shanghai, China, we investigated the association between intake of allium vegetables, including garlic, scallions, onions, chives, and leeks, and the risk of prostate cancer. We administered in-person interviews and collected information on 122 food items from 238 case subjects with incident, histologically confirmed prostate cancer and from 471 male population control subjects. Men in the highest of three intake categories of total allium vegetables (>10.0 g/day) had a statistically significantly lower risk (odds ratio [OR] = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34 to 0.76; P(trend)<.001) of prostate cancer than those in the lowest category (<2.2 g/day). Similar comparisons between categories showed reductions in risk for men in the highest intake categories for garlic (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.31 to 0.71; P(trend)<.001) and scallions (OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.18 to 0.51; P(trend)<.001). The reduced risk of prostate cancer associated with allium vegetables was independent of body size, intake of other foods, and total calorie intake and was more pronounced for men with localized than with advanced prostate cancer.

Eating garlic and onion: a matter of life or death

“…It was found that men in the category of highest intake of Allium vegetables (410 g day À1 ) had a statistically significant lower risk of contracting prostate cancer than did those in the category of lowest intake (2.2 g day À1 ). The reduced risk of prostate cancer associated with Allium vegetables was independent of body size, intake of other foods and total calorie intake, and was more pronounced for men with localized than with advanced prostate cancer (Hsing et al, 2002).…”

“…Site-specific, case-control studies and cohort studies suggest a preventive effect of Allium vegetables consumption against stomach, colorectal and prostate cancer, although evidence for a protective effect against cancer at other sites, including the breast, is still lacking (Ernst, 2000). Most notably, a populationbased, case -control study, performed on 238 patients with prostate cancer and 471 male control subjects, investigated the association between intake of Allium vegetables and the risk of prostate cancer (Hsing et al, 2002). It was found that men in the category of highest intake of Allium vegetables (410 g day À1 ) had a statistically significant lower risk of contracting prostate cancer than did those in the category of lowest intake (2.2 g day À1 ).…”

Nutrition and cancer: A review of the evidence for an anti-cancer diet

“…Allium vegetables, carrots, green vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and tomatoes also had a fairly consistent protective effect [81]. Allium vegetables (garlic, onion, leeks, and scallions) are particularly potent and have separately been found to be protective for stomach and colorectal cancers [82,83] and prostate cancer [84]. …”

Mechanisms of apoptosis resistance and treatment strategies to overcome them in hormone‐refractory prostate cancer

“…35 Garlic has been explored in prostate cancer prevention studies, and a relative decreased risk of prostate cancer was noted in consumers of garlic in an Asian population, supporting its possible use as an interesting agent in future studies. 36 In summary, initial anti-Bcl-2 approaches have been attempted in prostate cancer. Although activity exists in preclinical models, this has not yet translated into clinical activity.…”