STUDY: Study finds vegetables in allium family beneficial

JOURNAL: Journal of the National Cancer Institute

AUTHORS: Ann Hsing

ABSTRACT: A study found that men who ate about a tenth of an ounce or more a day of garlic were about 50 percent less likely to have prostate cancer.

---

COMMENTARY: Men in China have the lowest rate of prostate cancer in the world, and a diet rich in garlic, shallots and onions may be one of the reasons. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute report in a new study that a diet with lots of vegetables from the pungent allium food group reduces the risk of prostate cancer by about half. And the common Chinese diet includes hearty servings of these vegetables.

The results showed that those who ate more than a third of an ounce a day from the allium food group — which consists of onions, garlic and shallots — were about 50 percent less likely to have prostate cancer than those who ate less of the foods.

Scallions seemed to be the most protective food in the group. According to the study, men who ate about a tenth of an ounce or more a day of scallions reduced their prostate cancer risk by about 70 percent. For garlic consumption of the same amount, the prostate cancer risk was reduced by about 53 percent.

The typical Chinese diet is much more heavily seasoned with garlic, scallions and onions than is the traditional American diet. But even so, the amount of allium vegetables consumed is measured only in fractional ounces. For instance, the study suggests that an effective level of prostate cancer protection can be achieved with about one clove of garlic a day.

Earlier studies have found that that eating tomatoes and tomato products can lower the risk of prostate cancer. Italy, where tomato sauce and garlic are favorites, has one of the lowest rates of prostate cancer in Europe.

This shows that your mother was right.

Eat more vegetables.