Pomegranate Juice & Asprin etc.,

Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT AN ADVOCACY POST!   It's a somewhat befuddled post from a newbie. I know this kind of stuff can be "sensitive" - no harm intended   Being a new PC kid my eyes are quickly opening to a maze of claims  many legitimate studies (almost always preliminary in nature)  make regarding non-dx substances or actions (exercise) that aide in successful PC management.   Examples: 1) Take aspirin 2) Drink Pomegranate Juice 3) Exercise 4) Many, many more   So many of these things are easy enough to do - I even like pomegranate juice, but it seems to me these studies thus far are still fairly uncertain but serve as pointers for additional research (everyone wants a grant for additional research). Recent pomegranate juice studies are (to me) quite interesting. The recent study of POMx a.k.a Pepco Holdings Inc. has been a buz at HW ...I'm thinking, what the heck, a little juice - it doesn't get any easier than that.   But...of course if it does actually somehow help me  I will never really know because I'll be doing many, many things (nutrition, exercise, prayer, fellowship) that specific attribution will be impossible.   I believe if I had previously done what I'll be doing now my chances of getting PC would probably have been very much smaller - s o how can these things hurt now?   So for me the math goes something like this:   Is there a possibility of harm, to include u nrealistic hope ? Is it expensive? Is it hard to do? Can I accept uncertain efficacy?   If the answers are no, no, no and yes, then why not.   I would do it for the same reason I exercise - no h arm and the expatiation of benefit is not unreasonable.   Will I start washing aspirin down with Pomegranate Juice? Maybe - I still have a lot of research to do and many things to learn from the HW vetrans. I used to find it interesting (pre-PC) that many cancer patients bought juicers and shake ingredients that they thought would help them - I have no way of knowing if it did. At the time it I thought it seem kind of desperate. Now I thinking about buying a pomegranate juicer : )  Strange how the world turns.   Perhaps, it's partly the motivation, drive, mind+body connection,  and general hardy sprit of folks that keep active and keep doing what they can that make's the biggest contribution. Just go for it - as best as you can - knowing in advance there's not much that is knowable. Enjoy the day.   I personally have not neen able to "enjoy the day" very sucessfully as I'm still in the midst of an unfolding, statistically unkind, PC diagonisis.    In northwestern china they grow a lot of pomegranates and street vendors will squeeze it fresh for you - it's kind of bitter and it’s in a thin plastic cup not a e xotic p otion- looking bottle.   Oh Yes, I would lke another glass?   K2 50.8 yrs, 1st PSA 12.76, DRE abnormal Eurology appt. scheduled Did I mention I was a nubie?

I recently starting taking aspirin and pomegranate juice with no other significant changes. My next PSA after 2 1/2 months showed no change in doubling time -- so aspirin and pom for me at this early stage has had no effect.

Of course, what works or doesn't for some may not have the same effect on others. The only way to know if something works for us is to try it and measure the results. An ounce of practise beats a pound of theory.

K2

I'm off to the gym now, after just enjoying a refreshing glass of pomegranate juice.  Tastes great when it's ice cold!  Would probably be better with vodka!! Hmmm?

Skate

Newporter said...
Piano,

Just curious, why no radiation?

The docs considered that with my stats and surgical results, radiation isn't worthwhile. The horse has bolted.

Kongo - I checked with my doc and he said don't worry about the interaction of pom with my statin, that's it's not really like grapefruit.

Then I checked the national institute of health info and their list of diet issues for simvastatin says nothing about prostate.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000911#a692030-specialDietary
Same for Lipitor.

Then I checked wiki which lists all things you should not take with simvastatin. The list does not include pomegranate. See below. So I don't think this is a real issue.


Interactions

Grapefruit contains furanocoumarins, notably bergamottin and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin, which inhibit the intestinal cytochrome P450 3A4 isoform. This in turn slows metabolization of simvastatin and a large number of other drugs resulting in higher plasma levels of the drug. Due to the risk of toxicity patients taking simvastatin should avoid intake of grapefruit and grapefruit-containing products.[6]

On August 8, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning of the risk of rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure or death, when simvastatin is used with amiodarone. This interaction is dose-dependent with simvastatin doses exceeding 20 mg. This drug combination especially with higher doses of simvastatin should be avoided.[7]

On March 19, 2010 the FDA issued a another statement regarding simvastatin that said it increases the risk of muscle injury (myopathy) when taken at high doses (80 mg) or at lower doses in combination with other drugs. This conclusion is supported by the Study of the Effectiveness of Additional Reductions in Cholesterol and Homocysteine (SEARCH) trial.

Also, a 2010 FDA review of Simvastatin drug-drug interactions stated that patients should not take a simvastatin with Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Erythromycin, Clarithromycin, Telithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, or Nefazodone. Patients taking 10 mg of simvastatin should not take it with Gemfibrozil, Cyclosporine, or Danazol. If taking 20 mg of simvastatin, do not take it with Amiodarone or Verapamil. Diltiazem should not be taken with 40 mg of simvastatin. These drugs mentioned are CYP3A4 inhibitors which decrease the metabolism of simvastatin, therefore increasing the plasma activity of simvastatin which leads to higher risk of developing rhabdomyolysis and myopathy.[8] Simvastatin is contraindicated in pregnancy and liver disease.[8]

It is pretty hard to argue against going to a heart healthy diet and regular exercise (both aerobic and resistance.) Even if these have not been shown specific to PCa there are lots of other things out there for you to avoid dying from from.

For everything else -- ask your doctor. That includes aspirin as well as other supplements.

The research so far suggests that pomegranate may have some benefit and has shown few bad effects. BUT it is not a magic bullet and so, much depends on your economic situation. If the choice is spending on fresh fruits and vegetables or pomegranate, then the fruits and vegetables win easily.

I thought pomegranates were a fruit.

It is Jerry. I think he meant if you had to choose between buying regular fruits/vegetables or pomegranates, you would be better off as a well rounded diet to buy the regular fruits and vegetables.

i'll spend my buck a day on a 1000 mg POMx capsule rather than, say, a fuji apple.  my point is the financial argument is weak.

ed