ACKEE linked to Prostate Cancer

(sourced from HealthDay News ).
Dietary Fatty Acids Linked to Prostate Cancer
Study of Jamaicans suggests that diet rich in
linoleic acid is prostate cancer risk factor.

Jan. 24, 2007
A diet rich in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty
acids may be associated with a higher risk of
prostate cancer, and could explain why Jamaica
has the world's highest incidence of the disease,
according to study findings published in the January
issue of the Journal of Urology.

Charles B. Brendler, M.D., of the University of
Chicago, and colleagues conducted a study of 148
men in Kingston, Jamaica, who were tested for the
presence of prostate-specific antigen. Biopsies were
performed on the 54 men with 2.6 ng/mL or more
of the antigen, of whom 24 had prostate cancer.


Erythrocyte membrane polyunsaturated fatty acid
levels were also analyzed, revealing a positive correlation
between tumor volume and the linoleic
acid-to-docosahexaenoic acid (omega-3) ratio. There was
also a positive correlation between the tumor Gleason
score and linoleic acid levels.

The authors note that the Jamaican diet includes the widely
consumed ackee fruit, which is rich in omega-6
polyunsaturated fatty acid linoleic acid, and also that the
country's leading cause of death is prostate cancer. "The
positive correlations between linoleic acid and Gleason
score, and the linoleic acid-to-docosahexaenoic acid ratio
and tumor volume support studies showing that omega-6
polyunsaturated fatty acids stimulate and omega-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids inhibit prostate cancer growth,"
they conclude.