Study Links Mushroom Intake to Reduced Prostate Cancer Risk

Background on Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer ranks as the second most diagnosed cancer globally, presenting a substantial health challenge. Extensive research has been conducted to identify strategies that may lower the risk of developing this disease. Among these strategies, dietary modifications, particularly increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, have been emphasized as potentially beneficial.

Research Focus on Mushrooms

In light of scientific findings suggesting that mushrooms may play a role in preventing prostate cancer, a team of researchers from Japan explored the correlation between mushroom consumption and the incidence of prostate cancer. Their findings were recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, based on data collected from 36,499 Japanese men aged 40 to 79 years.

Study Findings

The researchers discovered that men who consumed mushrooms 1-2 times per week experienced a reduced risk of prostate cancer compared to those who ate mushrooms less frequently than once a week. Notably, the reduction in risk was even more pronounced among individuals who consumed mushrooms more than three times per week. These findings remained consistent even after accounting for the intake of other fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products.

Expert Insights

The study’s results indicate that regular mushroom consumption may be linked to a decreased risk of developing prostate cancer. However, lead author Dr. Shu Zhang from the Tohoku University School of Public Health noted some limitations. “Since information on mushroom species was not collected, it is difficult to know which specific mushroom(s) contributed to our findings. Also, the mechanism of the beneficial effects of mushrooms on prostate cancer remains uncertain,” he stated.

References

Zhang, S., Sugawara, Y., Chen, S., Beelman, R.B., Tsuduki, T., Tomata, Y., Matsuyama, S., Tsuji, I. (2019). Mushroom consumption and incident risk of prostate cancer in Japan: A pooled analysis of the Miyagi Cohort Study and the Ohsaki Cohort Study. International Journal of Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.32591

News release September 5, 2019: Eating mushrooms may help lower prostate cancer risk. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-09/w-emm090419.php