In men with recurrent Prostate cancer, drinking 8 ounces per day of pomegranate juice significantly increases the time it takes for an increase in levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), an indicator of prostate cancer, according to research presented Monday at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association in San Antonio.

Before the men in the study began consuming pomegranate juice, the average PSA doubling time, a measure of tumor activity, was 15 months, said lead author Dr. Allan J. Pantuck, from the University of California at Los Angeles. “The average time after treatment was 37 months. So, there was almost a 2-year increase in the doubling time.”

Pomegranate juice contains a number of antioxidants thought to have anti-cancer effects, Pantuck noted. In addition, the juice contains estrogen-like plant substances called phytoestrogens that could be useful in combatting Prostate cancer, in particular.

Based on encouraging results in cell culture and in animal models of prostate cancer, he said his team decided to conduct a clinical trial of pomegranate juice in 48 men with rising PSA levels after surgery or radiation therapy for their malignancy. As noted, the subjects were instructed to consume 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily.

Pomegranate juice therapy was well tolerated and no serious adverse effects were reported.

In addition to the beneficial increase in PSA doubling time, in vitro testing showed decreased cancer cell division and proliferation and increased cancer cell death. Urine testing confirmed the presence of pomegranate antioxidants in all men.

Given these promising findings, Pantuck noted that a multicenter phase III randomized trial is now in the works.

The study was funded by the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Trust, which own the POM Wonderful pomegranate juice company.