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Ways to Lower a PSA Number

PSA is a protein, the prostate specific antigen, that is measured in the blood. PSA is produced by the prostate gland to keep the semen in a liquid state. An elevated level of PSA can be used as an indicator of cancer, as well as several other health concerns in men. There are a number of ways to lower the PSA level.

  1. Exercise and Low Fat

    • Research presented in Harvard Men's Health Watch journal in July 2007 showed that men diagnosed with prostate cancer who underwent a regimen of regular exercise, like walking for a half hour a day, and were put on a vegan diet that was low in fat content, had slightly lowered PSA levels than men who had no lifestyle change. The men who did not follow the regimen showed increased PSA levels.

    Pomegranate Juice

    • Pomegranates have high levels of antioxidants, which are known to promote health and help fight cancer. Researcher Dr. Allan Pantuck from UCLA studied the effects of pomegranate juice in lowering PSA levels. Study groups of men were given eight oz servings of pomegranate juice once a day. The PSA level was tested at regular intervals and while PSA levels actually rose during the study, there were reductions in the multiplication of cells. Additional studies are needed to determine if continued dosing with pomegranate juice will in fact reduce PSA levels.

    NSAIDs

    • A study presented in the journal Cancer shows that men who regularly take aspirin or any of the NSAIDs-non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may show a reduction in their PSA levels. In men using NSAIDs, the PSA level dropped about 10 percent compared to men who did not use NSAIDs. More research is needed, however, since the study group was small and may not have provided statistically significant results.

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