ALA and Prostate Cancer

Studies of Serum PSA to Help Resolve the Current Implication of Alpha-linolenic Acid (ALA) and Prostate Cancer

The problem is the lack of data from randomized controlled trials to throw light on the ALA-prostate cancer issue. There is therefore a need to acquire evidence from a randomized controlled study to illustrate the effect of ALA on a surrogate marker for prostate cancer, namely prostate specific antigen (PSA). Demonstration that atrial fibrillation recurrence was reduced after cardioversion and that there was no adverse effect of 1 years of ALA feeding on PSA would go a considerable way to providing the required evidence that ALA in the human diet has no adverse effect on the prostate and so allow its use for cardiovascular risk reduction. hypothesis: The effect of ALA on PSA levels over time will be no different from the control, so providing supportive data for the view that ALA is not cancer promoting.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation; Prostate Cancer; Diet Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: ALA-rich diet

Detailed Description

In addition disturbing news on alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) has recently been reviewed by Brouwer and colleagues (J Nutr:2004). Their analyses suggests that ALA, as found in canola oil and other healthy foods, may cause prostate cancer even though there is good evidence that canola oil will prevent heart disease. This issue urgently needs further research.

In studies largely from the Harvard group, but suggested by additional studies from Uruguay and Spain, a link has been identified between ALA intake and prostate cancer. The Harvard studies are cohort studies where groups of approximately 40,000 doctors or health professionals have been followed up for periods of 10 years and the dietary intakes of ALA related to the subsequent development of aggressive prostate cancer. It must be stressed that these are not randomized crossover studies which are the currently accepted gold standard for evidence-based medicine and regulatory decision making. Nevertheless they raise concern over the health profile of a fatty acid with a growing reputation for cardiovascular disease prevention and a component of other healthy foods such as walnuts, flax, canola and soy.

The same Harvard group identified the deleterious effects on cardiovascular health of trans fatty acids in their cohort studies and this has resulted in a major effort to remove trans fatty acids from the food supply. On the other hand their identification of the benefits of vitamin E in their cohort studies has not been confirmed by subsequent randomized controlled trials. Although Dr Willett, the senior member of the Harvard group, has drawn surprisingly little attention to the negative findings with ALA, it remains a sticking point with regulators in the current debate over the inclusion and use of ALA in the food supply. This concern has been sufficient for the Natural Health Products Directorate of Health Canada to ask for a full proposal from us before we start studies on ALA in the prevention of atrial fibrillation due the apparently negative impact of ALA consumption on prostate cancer.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Phase 2

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 77 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Blood samples available from Bordeaux

Exclusion Criteria:

• Blood samples not received from Bordeaux

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Toronto
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David JA Jenkins, University of Toronto

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 7, 2022
• Primary Completion: December 7, 2022
• Study Completion: December 7, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 29, 2006
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 29, 2006
• First Posted (Estimate): March 31, 2006

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): June 13, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 12, 2012
• Last Verified: June 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Genital Neoplasms, Male; Prostatic Diseases; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Prostatic Neoplasms; Atrial Fibrillation
• Other Study ID Numbers: REB15636

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No