Tea and coffee consumption in relation to DNA methylation in four European cohorts.

Lifestyle factors, such as food choices and exposure to chemicals, can alter DNA methylation and lead to changes in gene activity. Two such exposures with pharmacologically active components are coffee and tea consumption. Both coffee and tea have been suggested to play an important role in modulating disease-risk in humans by suppressing tumour progression, decreasing inflammation and influencing estrogen metabolism. These mechanisms may be mediated by changes in DNA methylation. To investigate if DNA methylation in blood is associated with coffee and tea consumption, we performed a genome-wide DNA methylation study for coffee and tea consumption in four European cohorts (N = 3,096). DNA methylation was measured from whole blood at 421,695 CpG sites distributed throughout the genome and analysed in men and women both separately and together in each cohort. Meta-analyses of the results and additional regional-level analyses were performed. After adjusting for multiple testing, the meta-analysis revealed that two individual CpG-sites, mapping to DNAJC16 and TTC17, were differentially methylated in relation to tea consumption in women. No individual sites were associated with men or with the sex-combined analysis for tea or coffee. The regional analysis revealed that 28 regions were differentially methylated in relation to tea consumption in women. These regions contained genes known to interact with estradiol metabolism and cancer. No significant regions were found in the sex-combined and male-only analysis for either tea or coffee consumption.

Effect of soy protein isolate supplementation on biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy: a randomized trial.

IMPORTANCE: Soy consumption has been suggested to reduce risk or recurrence of prostate cancer, but this has not been tested in a randomized trial with prostate cancer as the end point. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether daily consumption of a soy protein isolate supplement for 2 years reduces the rate of biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy or delays such recurrence. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Randomized, double-blind trial conducted from July 1997 to May 2010 at 7 US centers comparing daily consumption of a soy protein supplement vs placebo in 177 men at high risk of recurrence after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Supplement intervention was started within 4 months after surgery and continued for up to 2 years, with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements made at 2-month intervals in the first year and every 3 months thereafter. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized to receive a daily serving of a beverage powder containing 20 g of protein in the form of either soy protein isolate (n=87) or, as placebo, calcium caseinate (n=90). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Biochemical recurrence rate of prostate cancer (defined as development of a PSA level of ≥0.07 ng/mL) over the first 2 years following randomization and time to recurrence. RESULTS: The trial was stopped early for lack of treatment effects at a planned interim analysis with 81 evaluable participants in the intervention group and 78 in the placebo group. Overall, 28.3% of participants developed biochemical recurrence within 2 years of entering the trial (close to the a priori predicted recurrence rate of 30%). Among these, 22 (27.2%) occurred in the intervention group and 23 (29.5%) in the placebo group. The resulting hazard ratio for active treatment was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.53-1.72; log-rank P = .89). Adherence was greater than 90% and there were no apparent adverse events related to supplementation. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Daily consumption of a beverage powder supplement containing soy protein isolate for 2 years following radical prostatectomy did not reduce biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer in men at high risk of PSA failure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00765479.

Adherence to a low-fat diet in men with prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate, in a feasibility study, the adherence to a low-fat diet by men with prostate cancer. Evidence is growing that a low-fat diet affects the development and course of prostate cancer. To design preventive and therapeutic interventions, it is important to know whether men will adhere to these nutritional recommendations, particularly when motivated by the diagnosis of prostate cancer. METHODS: Men with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels, most of whom were recently treated for prostate cancer, were randomized to one of four dietary regimens for which they received nutritional counseling: a low-fat diet (15% fat or less) with supplements (vitamin E and selenium), a low-fat diet (15% fat or less) without the supplements, the supplements alone, and a control group. Adherence was evaluated by the change in weight, fat intake, free fatty acids, cholesterol, high-density and low-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides during a 12-month period. RESULTS: The mean age of the 48 participants was 66 years. For those counseled about a low-fat diet, the mean change in the percentage of energy (kilocalories) in the diet from fat was greater after 3 months (-8.6% versus +2.1%, P <0.001) and 12 months (-9.8% versus -1.6%, P = 0.001). Three months after starting the intervention, those randomized to low-fat dietary counseling had lost 2 kg, on average, compared with 0.8 kg lost by those who did not receive this counseling (P = 0.09). At 12 months, those receiving low-fat counseling had lost 2.8 kg, on average, compared with 0.5 kg gained among the other groups (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: With appropriate counseling, men with prostate cancer can adhere to a low-fat dietary intervention for a 12-month period.

Chemoprevention trials in men with prostate-specific antigen failure or at high risk for recurrence after radical prostatectomy: Application to efficacy assessment of soy protein.

This article discusses the basic elements of chemoprevention trial designs using cohorts of men following radical prostatectomy who either have prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure indicative of recurrence or are at high risk for recurrence (positive surgical margins, extracapsular extension, seminal vesicle invasion, positive lymph nodes, Gleason score of greater than or equal to 8, preoperative serum PSA less than 20 ng/mL). Two ongoing randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials with soy protein as intervention in these 2 populations are described. In the trial with men at high risk for recurrence, participants started intervention within 4 months after surgery and were followed for up to 2 years; primary endpoints were PSA failure rate and time-to-PSA failure. In the trial with men with PSA failure (PSA 0.1 to 2.0 ng/mL), participants received treatment for 8 months and the primary endpoint is rise in PSA over time. The strengths and limitations of these designs are discussed and interim experience using studies with soy protein as the intervention agent are summarized.

Screening for syphilis among homosexual men in bars and saunas in Amsterdam.

Serological screening of 1627 homosexual men visiting two saunas and two bars in Amsterdam showed that 32.2% were seroreactive for syphilis. The 18-month study period ended in June 1981. Follow-up was possible in 91% (224/245) of subjects with both positive TPHA and VDRL test results; 76 cases of previously undetected syphilis were identified among 75 of the 224 men (incidence rate 4.6%). The rate of previously undetected syphilis declined appreciably during the study period. The cost of identifying one new case of syphilis was Df1577 (pounds 120 or US $ 220).