Recent study: Herbal supplements with beneficial bacteria may help slow prostate cancer.

A recent study by an international team of researchers has shown that a diet supplemented with specific plant extracts and beneficial bacteria (probiotics) may play a crucial role in slowing the progression of prostate cancer-related biomarkers in the blood of men with low-risk conditions.

The academics involved in the study explained that the relationship between gut and prostate health is receiving increasing attention, which prompted them to study the effect of enhancing the diet with phytonutrients and beneficial bacteria of the Lactobacillus type on men with low-risk prostate cancer.

The team developed a supplement that combines natural ingredients: broccoli, turmeric, pomegranate, green tea, ginger, and cranberries, in addition to beneficial bacteria specially prepared for this purpose.

The research involved approximately 212 men with low-risk prostate cancer, and the team was led by Professor Robert Thomas from the University of Bedfordshire, in collaboration with Cambridge University Hospitals, Bedford Hospital, and scientists from California in the United States and Perth in Australia.

The team divided the patients participating in the study into two groups:

• First: She received the dietary supplement along with a placebo.
• Second: The food supplement was received along with “probiotics”.

The researchers relied on levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood as a biomarker, in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to monitor the progression of the disease over four months.

Accurate statistical results

The results, published in the European Urology Oncology Journal, showed a significant slowing of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) development in both groups, but the results were more favorable for those who took supplements and probiotics.

• The (supplement + placebo) group: 82% of them maintained their stable condition, while the condition worsened in 18%.
• The (supplement + probiotic) group: 85.5% of them maintained a stable condition, while 6.7% recorded a decline (improvement) in the disease, and only 7.8% witnessed progress in their condition.

Additional benefits identified by the study:

1. A clear decrease in inflammation markers in the blood thanks to probiotics.
2. Urinary tract symptoms improved in about a quarter of the participants.
3. Improved physical strength and overall activity.

A safe alternative to surgery

The importance of these results lies in the fact that they give patients a strong reason to be reassured by the principle of “medical monitoring” without rushing into surgery. Although 60% of those with low-risk cases initially prefer to monitor the progression of the disease rather than remove it, the fear of the condition worsening drives half of them to back down from this decision and resort to surgery in a few years.

This is where the value of this diet comes in, as it acts as a “safety valve” that slows the progression of the disease and gives patients the confidence to continue monitoring, thus protecting them from the harsh side effects of intensive treatments that their bodies may not actually need.

Professor Robert Thomas said the study shows for the first time that improving the balance of gut bacteria slows cancer activity, noting that such a correlation between PSA and MRI results is rare in nutritional research. Dr. Geoffrey Aldous from the University of Bedfordshire says these findings enhance our understanding of how dietary strategies can influence the gut microbiome to improve patients’ quality of life.

Despite the short duration of the study, the team concluded that it adds further evidence of patients’ ability to improve their disease course through lifestyle changes, such as exercising, quitting smoking, and following a diet rich in “Omega-3”. The team plans a longer follow-up study to ascertain the extent to which these supplements reduce the need for surgery or radiation therapy in the future.