According to new research a daily glass of pomegranate juice may be effective in slowing down the progression of prostate cancer.
A study sponsored by a juice producer has found that the blood content levels of PSA took much longer to double in men who drank the juice.
PSA, or prostate specific antigen, is a protein marker for <<>>.
The faster PSA levels increase in the blood of men after treatment, the greater their potential for dying of <<>>.
The researchers say that the study carried out was on a small scale and more evidence is needed before doctors recommend it.
In the study, the time until PSA doubled after treatment extended to 54 months on average when the men started drinking eight ounces of pomegranate juice a day whereas prior to drinking the juice, PSA doubled in an average of 15 months.
Dr. Allan Pantuck, a urologist at <<>> and the study's lead author says that represents a very big difference and is an indicator of how quickly the cancer grows.
In the study each of the 50 men who took part had radiation, surgery or other treatment for <<>> before enrolling and suffered no major side effects from drinking the juice.
Pantuck says at this stage the evidence is preliminary but a larger study is already under way in an attempt to confirm the findings which are expected in two years.