Pomegranate juice: A cure for prostate cancer?

Updated: 2021-06-24

Answer Section

Some early research suggested that drinking pomegranate juice slowed the progression of prostate cancer, but additional research failed to confirm those results.

For example, in some studies of men with recurrent prostate cancer and rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, researchers found that drinking pomegranate juice or taking pomegranate juice extract significantly slowed the rate at which PSA was rising (PSA doubling time). A longer PSA doubling time can indicate that the cancer may be progressing less rapidly.

But these studies didn't use a control group or a placebo group. Later studies using a placebo-controlled design found no clear benefit for pomegranate juice extract.

If you choose to drink pomegranate juice, talk with your doctor first. Although pomegranate juice is generally safe, there is evidence that it may affect how your body processes certain prescription medications. Those medications include blood thinners and drugs used to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol.