Allium vegetables and risk of prostate cancer: a population-based study.

Men who regularly consume large servings of allium vegetables, such as garlic and onions, are less likely to develop prostate cancer than rare- or non-consumers of allium vegetables.

This study was carried out to determine the association between the consumption of allium vegetables, such as onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, and chives, and the incidence of prostate cancer. Using validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers examined the onion, garlic, leek, chive, and scallion intakes of 707 men residing in Shanghai, China. The prostate cancer odds ratio of each of the participant in this study was also assessed.

Researchers observed a lower prostate cancer risk among subjects in the highest quartile of allium vegetable consumption than those in the lowest quartile. The anti-carcinogenic effects of allium vegetables were found to be more effective in patients with localized prostate cancer than in those with advanced prostate carcinomas. The results of this study show that increased consumption of allium vegetables may help prevent the development of cancerous cells in the prostate gland and inhibit the progression of the disease.