Findings from German Cancer Research Center, Division of Cancer provide new insights into prostate cancer therapy

   "We evaluated the association between dietary intake of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and menaquinones (vitamin K2) and total and advanced prostate cancer in the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. At baseline, habitual dietary intake was assessed by means of a food-frequency questionnaire. Dietary intake of phylloquinone and menaquinones (MK-4-14) was estimated by using previously published HPLC-based food-content data. Multivariate-adjusted relative risks of total and advanced prostate cancer in relation to intakes of phylloquinone and menaquinones were calculated in 11 319 men by means of Cox proportional hazards regression. During a mean follow-up time of 8.6 y, 268 incident cases of prostate cancer, including 113 advanced cases, were identified. We observed a nonsignificant inverse association between total prostate cancer and total menaquinone intake [multivariate relative risk (highest compared with lowest quartile): 0.65; 95% CI: 0.39, 1.06]. The association was stronger for advanced prostate cancer (0.37; 0.16, 0.88; P for trend=0.03). Menaquinones from dairy products had a stronger inverse association with advanced prostate cancer than did menaquinones from meat. Phylloquinone intake was unrelated to prostate cancer incidence (1.02; 0.70, 1.48). Our results suggest an inverse association between the intake of menaquinones, but not that of phylloquinone, and prostate cancer," wrote K. Nimptsch and colleagues, German Cancer Research Center, Division of Cancer.

   The researchers concluded: "Further studies of dietary vitamin K and prostate cancer are warranted."

   Nimptsch and colleagues published the results of their research in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Dietary intake of vitamin K and risk of prostate cancer in the Heidelberg cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Heidelberg). The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2008;87(4):985-92).

   For additional information, contact K. Nimptsch, German Cancer Research Centre, Division of Cancer Epidemiology, Heidelberg, Germany.

   The publisher of the The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition can be contacted at: American Society Clinical Nutrition, 9650 Rockville Pike, Subscriptions, RM L-3300, Bethesda, MD 20814-3998, USA.

   Keywords: Germany, Heidelberg, Prostate Cancer Therapy, Alternative Medicine, Cancer Research, Oncology, Prostate Cancer, Prostatic Neoplasms, Therapy, Treatment.

   This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.

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