Scientists at Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute have discovered that xanthohumol, a flavonoid derived from hops and found in beer, fights prostate cancer in several ways.
When xanthohumol is introduced into a prostate cancer cell culture, it causes a slowdown in the growth of those cancer cells. It also appears that xanthohumol triggers apoptosis, or cell death, in healthy prostate cells when it is time for them to die. (Cancerous cells usually do not undergo apoptosis, so they continue to replicate.)
Further research is needed to determine if xanthohumol works in the human body the same way as it does in a cell culture, so definitive answers are still a while away. Only then might it be possible for drug companies to develop xanthohumol as medication.
Analysis:
Thinking about increasing your intake of xanthohumol? Don't drink more beer. Xanthohumol is present in today's beer in amounts so small that a man would have to drink about 17 beers to get the same amount used in the study.
If you are looking for a supplement that contains xanthohumol, there are a few on the market including Zyflamend (compare prices) that contain significant amounts of xanthohumol. However, until the effects of xantholhumol are extensively studied in humans, extreme caution should be exercised in the use of this supplement.
Source: Colgate, E., Miranda, C., Stevens, J., Bray, T. & Ho, E. (2006). Xanthohumol, a prenylflavonoid derived from hops, induces apoptosis and inhibits NF-kappaB activation in prostate epithelial cells, Cancer Letters. (abstract - available for purchase)
