Eastern diet and benign prostatic hyperplasia

This chapter discusses the important bioactive compounds of ingredients that are commonly found in Eastern diet that may affect the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These compounds include β-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E found in vegetables; eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid found in fish; lycopene found in tomatoes; and isoflavones found in soy. Proposed mechanisms of action of these compounds on reducing the risk of BPH include antioxidative and proapoptotic effects on hyperplastic prostate tissue and modulation of growth and steroidogenic enzymes. The chapter also discusses how it compares to its Western counterpart in reducing prostate tissue proliferation.