Fiber intake linked to lower prostate cancer risk

A recent study published in the March 2004 edition of the International Journal of Cancer suggests that men who eat their veggies may be less likely than others to develop prostate cancer. Results from the study, conducted in Italy from 1991 to 2002, assessed the diets and lifestyles of 1,745 men. The researchers found that the subjects who consumed the most fiber, especially from vegetable sources, had a decreased risk of prostate cancer, compared to those who consumed the least. Fiber from fruit or grain products was not specifically related to a lower prostate cancer risk, but soluble fiber (from vegetable sources) did appear to provide protection against the disease. Fiber comes in two main forms, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber partially dissolves in water, and its food sources include vegetables, fruit, oatmeal, and legumes. Insoluble fiber, which passes through the digestive system largely intact, is found in foods like whole grains, seeds, and the skin on fruit.