Foods rich in vitamin A such as carrots could be the key to beating prostate cancer in men because it makes the disease far more treatable, a new study has found.
Researchers led by Norman Maitland from the University of York in UK have discovered that retenoic acid, a chemical made from vitamin A, can reduce the ability of the cancer to invade surrounding tissue.
"We have found that specific twin genes are turned off in malignant prostate cancer stem cells. When we turn them back on using retinoic acid, the cancer becomes less aggressive," Maitland said.
"It has been known for many years that low vitamin A in samples of men's blood is associated with prostate cancer, but nobody knew the mechanisms involved. This is an exciting new development which links an element from our diet to prostate cancer stem cells," he said.
Vitamin A is found in foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes and leafy green vegetables. Products produced from liver are also high in vitamin A, Yorkpress.Co.Uk reported.
The latest research published in the Yorkshire Cancer Research Unit, is the second recent breakthrough in understanding prostate cancer.
Last month Maitland announced he had discovered the process which triggers the formation of cancer cells.
