TORONTO, March 3, 2000 /PRNewswire/ -- Can preventing prostate cancer, the
leading form of cancer among North American men, be as simple as indulging in
a glass of tomato juice, putting ketchup on your scrambled eggs, or adding
extra tomato sauce to your spaghetti?
    Questions such as this will be discussed by leading nutrition and cancer
research experts from across North America at a two-day symposium, "Prostate
Cancer Prevention 2000: The Role of Nutrition," this Friday, March 3, and
Saturday, March 4, at the Old Mill in Toronto.  Lycopene, an antioxidant found
in tomatoes and tomato-based products, is one nutrient experts will focus on
when they discuss the relationship between nutrition and prostate cancer
prevention, and nutrients that may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
The symposium will be presented by the Departments of Surgery, Nutritional
Sciences and Continuing Education, Faculty of Medicine at the University of
Toronto.
    "This symposium, the first of its kind with such a large group of
researchers participating, is an important element of our ongoing research
into nutrition and prostate cancer prevention," said Dr. David Yeung,
president, Heinz Institute of Nutritional Sciences (HINS), associate
professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto.
    Designed to build awareness of the emerging role of nutrition in prostate
cancer prevention through education, the series of discussion panels and
seminars is aimed at urologists, oncologists, nutritionists and dietitians who
treat patients with cancer.
    "There is no question that nutrition is an essential factor in a healthy
life.  Moreover, there are proven results that it plays a positive role in
prostate cancer prevention," said Yeung.  "We are keen to bring such a large
group of researchers and experts together in order to share their findings and
improve our understanding of how specific components in foods may assist in
the prevention of prostate cancer."
    "Evidence is stronger than ever that nutrition is a large factor in
prostate cancer prevention," said Dr. Frederick Khachik, senior research
scientist and adjunct professor at the University of Maryland.  "For example,
it is only recently that consumers have become aware of the health benefits of
lycopene and its role in cancer prevention.  In the past three or four years,
research has progressed significantly.  In addition to the benefits of
lycopene, we have been able to identify metabolites of lycopene that appear to
be more powerful than lycopene itself," said Khachik.  "Research continues to
progress rapidly and this symposium is an important tool to help healthcare
professionals understand all components of nutrition in prostate cancer,
ultimately increasing public awareness."

    About the Heinz Institute of Nutritional Sciences
    The Heinz Institute of Nutritional Sciences (HINS) is a non-profit
organization that advances the knowledge and practice of nutrition.  HINS
consists of a global network of nutritional experts from academia, the medical
profession, government, and the food industry.

Link to this page: