Prostate Health - Beer
Ingredient (Hops) May Prevent Prostate Cancer and Enlargement -
Xanthohumol Inhibits NF-kappaB Protein in Gland
June 13th 2006
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Researchers at Oregon State University have found that xanthohumol, a
compound found in hops, inhibits NF-kappaB protein in cells
along the surface of the prostate gland. Xanthohumol is a chief
ingredient in beer and this finding may lead to a therapy that could
prevent both prostate cancer and prostate enlargement.
According to Emily Ho, "We've shown that the addition of xanthohumol in
a cell culture blocks the signal of NF-KappaB protein and works to slow
down the growth of benign prostatic hyperplasia and malignant prostate
cancer cell”. Ho is assistant professor of nutrition and exercise
sciences in OSU's College of Health and Human Sciences and a researcher
with OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute.
The researchers warn that since xanthohumol is found in such small
amounts, a person would have to drink more than 17 beers a day to
consume the same amount found effective in the study.
Xanthohumol is a plant flavonoid compound which can trigger programmed
cell death. Normally cells die after a certain number of divisions, but
cancer cells do not. The researchers believe flavonoids can trigger
programmed cell death, which can prevent cancer.
This uncontrolled cell reproduction is a cause of cancer. Ho says the
NF-kappaB protein acts like a signal switch that turns on a variety of animal and
human malignancies, including prostate cancer. Xanthohumol was first
discovered in 1913, but only in the past 10 years have scientists found
health benefits.
Since there are many negative health effects due to over consumption of
alcohol, the researchers suggest that a drug company might produce a
concentrated “dose” of the flavonoid. The Oregon team says that
researchers could work to increase the xanthohumol content of hops.
Hops is already available in supplements. Also, scientists in Germany
have developed a beer that contains 10 times the amount of xanthohumol
as traditional brews. The drink is being marketed as a healthy beer, but
research is still under way to determine if the liquid has any impact
against cancer.
Dan Wilson
Best Syndication
Books on Cancer
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