Aerobic training and green tea extract protect against N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced prostate cancer. - GreenMedInfo Summary

INTRODUCTION: Aerobic training and green tea extract can be used to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of eight-week aerobic exercise training and administration of green tea extract on the level of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and p53 tumor suppressor protein (p53) in prostate of rats which were stimulated by N-Methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU) to induce the prostate cancer.

METHODS: 60 adult male Wistar rats were assigned into six groups including healthy control (HCt), cancer control (CCt), cancer training (CTr: 45 min/day at low-moderate intensity, 5 times/week, 8 weeks), cancer extract (CEx: 1.34 ml of green tea extract, 3 times/week, 8 weeks), cancer training+ cancer extract (CTr+CEx) and sham groups. Rats were sacrificed 48 hours after the last intervention session, and the prostate tissue was isolated to measure the levels of NF-kB, COX-2, and p53.

RESULTS: The NF- kB level in CCt group was increased significantly compared to the HCt (P=0.02). In the CTr group, NF-kB level was decreased significantly compared to the CCt and CEx groups (P=0.001 and 0.05, respectively). In addition, the levels of P53 protein were reduced in CTr, CEx and CTr+CEx groups compared to CCt group (P=0.001, 0.02 and 0.004, respectively). No significant changes were found in the level of COX-2 between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a long-term exercise training combined with the intake of green tea extract may reduce levels of NF-kB and p53 in rats with prostate cancer. Given the importance of recognizing complementary therapies in this regard, future studies are warranted.