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Vinegar Victorious Over Dandruff

Posting Date: 03/17/2003

Q. My doctor has been carefully monitoring my PSA levels because they doubled over the course of two years. Although I don?t have prostate cancer, my doctor says the biopsy shows some pre-cancerous cells.

I heard that lycopene is good for the prostate, but I am not crazy about tomatoes. I started taking it as a dietary supplement (30 mg daily) and my PSA has dropped from 6 to 1.6. I think other men might be interested.

A. Lycopene is found in many fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes. Preliminary research suggests that a diet rich in lycopene can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. A study in the journal Experimental Biology and Medicine (Nov. 2002) demonstrated that 30 mg of lycopene daily did indeed lower PSA levels and improved biopsy results.

Other supplements that are being investigated for prostate health include soy, vitamin E, selenium and flax seed. Medical monitoring is crucial with such a pre-cancerous condition.

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In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.org. Their newest book is The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies (St. Martin's Press).