Studies on PC cells support the conclusion that w-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, significantly
inhibit cell proliferation more than other fatty acids. The mammalian lignans
at increasing concentrations up to 10-8 M significantly decreased
the proliferation of all three PC cell lines. The hormone-sensitive LNCaP cells were particularly inhibited by both lignans. In the
male TRAMP mice, a 5% flaxseed-supplemented diet as compared to the control
diet significantly decreased the PC burden and increased the index of
programmed cell death after 20 and 30 weeks of dietary treatment. To date, our human pilot studies suggest
that PC patients consuming a 30-g daily dose of flaxseed in combination with a
low-fat (about 20% of total energy; w-3: w-6 ratio of approximately 1:4) diet
as compared to the usual American diet had lower measures of cell proliferation
and greater programmed cell death in their surgically-removed prostate
tissues. Additional isolated cell
investigations are needed to clarify the relationships and mechanisms of
various dietary factors to the inhibition of PC growth, promotion and possibly
the initiation events. Additional
human studies using high