While supplements are perceived as safe and beneficial for your wellbeing, sometimes this simply isn’t the case. If you have concerns about your prostate wellness, there are certain supplements you need to avoid:
1. Calcium: ‘There is no question that everyone needs calcium,’ says Dr. Geo Espinosa, ND, LAC, CNS, RH (AHG). ‘Calcium is the main component of bone, and it is critical for proper function of the heart, muscles, and nerves, and for blood clotting. But men should beware: the American Cancer Society notes there is evidence that high intake of calcium, mainly through supplements, has been associated with a greater risk of prostate cancer, especially aggressive cancer. Several prestigious studies back up this concern, including one in which researchers found a nearly threefold increased risk for developing fatal prostate cancer in men who had high-normal levels of serum calcium compared with men who had lower average calcium levels…Men should make sure they get enough calcium, 1,200mg daily, but mainly from food and not supplements.’
2. Chondroitin: According to Dr. Espinosa, ‘Chondroitin is a major component of cartilage, the connective tissue that cushions the joints. Chondroitin is produced by the body, and it helps maintain the health of cartilage in several ways: by absorbing fluids into the connective tissue, blocking enzymes that can damage and break down cartilage, and providing materials for the body to make new cartilage. Chondroitin supplements are popular as a treatment for osteoarthritis, and they are available either alone or, in most cases, in combination with glucosamine. At least two studies have revealed concern that chondroitin should not be used by men who have prostate cancer. In one study, researchers found a higher concentration of chondroitin in the prostate tissue of men who had cancer than in the tissue of men without prostate cancer.’
3. Iron: ‘Iron is a component of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body,’ Dr. Espinosa explains. ‘The mineral also boosts the immune system and is necessary for cell division. This latter feature makes too much iron a potential problem, because many cancer cell types accumulate iron especially for this purpose. In fact, at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, researchers presented results of a study in which they showed that high iron intake along with low intake of antioxidants may increase a man’s risk of aggressive prostate cancer. (Choi 2008) The RDA for iron for men is 18 mg. It is recommended that men not take an iron supplement or a combination supplement that contains iron until they consult their doctor for a simple blood test to determine whether they have an iron deficiency.’
4. Multivitamins: Dr. Espinosa points out, ‘Excessive use of multivitamins/multiminerals (“multis”) has been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. This warning is based on a large study in which researchers evaluated 395,344 men who were cancer-free when they enrolled in 1995 and 1996. Over the next five years, 10,241 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer: 8,765 men had localised disease and 1,476 had advanced prostate cancer. A separate analysis was done over six years to evaluate mortality, and 179 men were found to have fatal prostate cancer in this arm of the study. Overall, when the researchers compared the men who did not use multis excessively, there was no increased risk of localised prostate cancer. When men who used multis more than seven times a week were compared with those who never used the supplements, the investigators saw an increased risk of both advanced and fatal prostate cancers.’
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