Tomatoes ‘can ward off prostate cancer’

LONDON - Tomatoes could protect men against prostate cancer, says a new research.

Scientists at the University of Naples suggest that a daily serving of tomatoes could protect against prostate cancer and slow the growth of a tumour in an existing sufferer, reports the Daily Mail.

The study involving mice bred to be genetically susceptible to cancer showed those fed a daily diet rich in tomato extracts were less likely to fall ill - and survived longer if they did.

The findings are the latest in a long line of studies looking at whether tomatoes can combat the disease.

There have been conflicting results with some suggesting benefits and some none at all.

In the latest, scientists studied mice that had been bred to be at risk of prostate cancer.

The researchers compared those fed a normal diet with mice given at least 10 per cent of their food in the form of a powder made from cherry tomatoes.

The tomato-fed mice had lower rates of cancer and survived longer than the others, they said.

The study has been published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. (ANI)