Australian-born men are showing more possible warning signs of prostate cancer than those born in other countries, according to a new report published by the Medical Journal of Australia but the report goes on to say that Greek men may be at less risk, and that the Mediterranean diet may well be a factor in reducing a person’s susceptibility to disease.
What’s more, eating more tomatoes may play a crucial role in protection.
The report’s findings come from a study which examined PSA levels of more than 1430 men living in the ethnically diverse area around Sydney’s Concord Hospital.
The study found Australian-born men over 70 years old have higher prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels than those born overseas. Elevated PSA levels are a possible early-warning indicator of prostate abnormalities.
Almost half those who participated in the study were born in Australia, but researchers found that those born in Greece, Italy, as well as Britain and Ireland, had lower PSA levels than the Australian-born men.
While genetics are said to be underpinning the findings, Professor Robert Cumming, one of the authors of the report, said that the Mediterranean diet might play a part in the healthier outlook found in Greek and Italian born participants.
“The men born in Italy and Greece have a diet that lowers their risk of prostate cancer,” said Professor Cumming.
Previous research has linked the consumption of tomatoes to lowered prostate cancer risk.
“If we wanted to pinpoint one thing it may well be that higher tomato intake is protective,” added the professor. “It’s not proven, but that’s probably the most likely thing.”
