Lycopene & Selenium - Impact on Prostate Health

A 2021 health promotion article titled What Men Can Do to Reduce Their Risk of Prostate Cancer, published on the Government of Canada website, reports that prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadians. Approximately 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. They also provided some steps to reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer, including that foods rich in lycopene and selenium may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. ¹

To begin with, what is the prostate and what are its functions?

• The prostate is a gland belonging to the male reproductive system.
• Major role in the production of sperm which is composed of spermatozoa (produced by the testicles), and seminal fluid (liquid produced by the prostate and seminal vesicles: these secretions contribute to the survival of spermatozoa, their mobility, their resistance).
• Hormonal role, transforming a part (5%) of testosterone into an even more active metabolite, dihydrotestosterone. ²

What do the studies say?

Lycopene

Lycopene is the red pigment found in tomatoes, among other foods. It is one of the carotenoids (antioxidant plant pigments) found in the highest amounts in the bloodstream. More recently, it has been widely studied for its beneficial effects on prostate health. ^3,4

So what should you do if a person is unable to get enough lycopene in their diet?

A lycopene supplement may be a more convenient option to benefit from its potential antioxidant and anticancer properties. ^5,6

Lycopene in dietary supplements is about as easily used by the body as that found in food. A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis found that higher intake or circulating levels of lycopene may be linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer. ⁷

For example, results from a preliminary clinical trial in 40 patients indicate that lycopene supplementation (15 mg daily for 6 months) can reverse the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia. ⁸

However, there is little research on lycopene supplementation specifically. To be continued…

Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral with antioxidant properties and has been widely studied for its benefits in cancer treatment. Severe selenium deficiency can increase the risk of age-related diseases, making it an essential element for life. ⁹ Prostate cancer patients have been shown to have low levels of antioxidants in their blood. ¹⁰

References:

1. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-of-national-defence/organization/news/regional-news/sentinel-west/2021/11/what-men-can-do-to-reduce-their-risk-of-prostate-cancer.html#

2. https://urologie-chu-bordeaux.fr/question-du-mois/a-quoi-sert-la-prostate/

3. Wang XD. Lycopene metabolism and its biological significance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Nov;96(5):1214S-22S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.032359. Epub 2012 Oct 10. PMID: 23053559; PMCID: PMC3471203. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3471203/pdf/ajcn9651214S.pdf

4. Rao AV, Agarwal S. Bioavailability and in vivo antioxidant properties of lycopene from tomato products and their possible role in the prevention of cancer. Nutr Cancer. 1998;31(3):199-203. doi:10.1080/01635589809514703. PMID: 9795972. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01635589809514703

5. Holzapfel NP, Holzapfel BM, Champ S, Feldthusen J, Clements J, Hutmacher DW. The potential role of lycopene for the prevention and therapy of prostate cancer: from molecular mechanisms to clinical evidence. Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Jul 12;14(7):14620-46. doi:10.3390/ijms140714620. PMID: 23857058; PMCID: PMC3742263. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3742263/pdf/ijms-14-14620.pdf

6. Ilic D, Misso M. Lycopene for the prevention and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer: a systematic review. Maturitas. 2012 Aug;72(4):269-76. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2012.04.014. Epub 2012 May 23. PMID: 22633187. https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378-5122(12)00160-0

7. Chen P, Zhang W, Wang X, Zhao K, Negi DS, Zhuo L, Qi M, Wang X, Zhang X. Lycopene and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Aug;94(33): e1260. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000001260. PMID: 26287411; PMCID: PMC4616444. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26287411

8. Schwarz S, Obermüller-Jevic UC, Hellmis E, Koch W, Jacobi G, Biesalski HK. Lycopene inhibits disease progression in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia. J Nutr. 2008 Jan;138(1):49-53. doi:10.1093/jn/138.1.49. PMID: 18156403. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622095037?via%3Dihub

9. McCann JC, Ames BN. Adaptive dysfunction of selenoproteins from the perspective of the triage theory: why modest selenium deficiency may increase risk of diseases of aging. FASEB J. 2011 Jun;25(6):1793-814. doi: 10.1096/fj.11-180885. Epub 2011 Mar 14. PMID: 21402715. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21402715/

10. Krannich F, Mücke R, Büntzel J, Schomburg L, Micke O, Hübner J, Dörfler J. A systematic review of Selenium as a complementary treatment in cancer patients. Ther Med supplement. 2024 Oct 6; 86:103095. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2024.103095. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39374898. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229924000839?via%3Dihub

Maison Jacynthe disclaims all liability. All information contained on this page is not intended to replace justified allopathic treatment or to disregard the expertise of the medical profession. It is up to each individual to take charge of their own health, to inform themselves, and to make the necessary changes to improve their condition. Therapeutic supervision by a qualified health professional is obviously recommended.