A group study establishes for the first time a link between the properties of mushrooms and the reduction of prostate cancer.
Mushrooms as a cure for cancer. A group of Japanese researchers has published a study showing that regular consumption of mushrooms could reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Their results, relayed by theInternational Journal of Cancersuggest for the first time that there is a link between the consumption of mushrooms and the prevention of prostate cancer.
Risks that decrease by 8 to 17%
For thirteen years, scientists followed 36,499 Japanese, aged 40 to 79, to find out their consumption habits. At the end of their study, they concluded that men over 50 consuming mushrooms one to three times a week would respectively see their risks decrease by 8 to 17% compared to those who hardly ate them. These values would remain the same regardless of people’s meat, dairy or fruit and vegetable consumption.
According to Dr. Shu Zhang of T?hoku University of Public Health, who conducted the study, “the link between mushroom consumption and the development of prostate cancer in men has never been examined before, this is the first cohort study to do so. Mushrooms are a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, especially ergothioneine”, an amino acid present in different varieties of mushrooms. According to the researchers, a diet low in ergothioneine could lead to chronic inflammation of certain cells and potentially trigger certain cancers. According to the World Health Organization, prostate cancer is the second most common case affecting men, behind lung cancer.
.
