In a population study involving 525 men under 80 years of age diagnosed with prostate cancer of which 42% died of prostate cancer and another 49% died of other causes. The study found that the higher the dietary intake of zinc the greater association there was with a reduced risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality by 64%. No association was found between zinc intake and mortality from other causes. The authors conclude that ”high intake of zinc is associated with lower prostate cancer-specific mortality after diagnosis, particularly in men with localised disease.” [1]
Greg’s Comments: Zinc concentrates in the prostate and is essential for male reproductive health and physiology. Unfortunately, zinc deficiency is common due to a diet low in zinc-rich foods, alcohol, drugs, dysbiosis, digestive disorders and soils deficient in zinc. In Australia is it estimated that 67% of men are zinc deficient. [2]
Reference: “Dietary zinc and prostate cancer survival in a Swedish cohort,” Epstein MM, Kasperzyk JL, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2011 March; 93(3): 586-93. (Address: Departments of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. E-mail: mameyer@hsph.harvard.edu).
