New study below [1].
The interesting stuff is in Table 1.
Screening varies & comparing incidence rates can be msleading.
Crude mortality rates can be misleading too, because of variations in population age distributions.
So the rates below are age-adjusted deaths per 100,000 / year
Scandinavia
Denmark15.9
Sweden14.3
Norway14.3
Mediterranean
Greece 8.2
Spain7.3
Italy5.9
Latitude seems to be a PCa mortality risk factor. I won't mention V*T*M*N *
-Patrick
Is there anything else we can make of this?
Some might be interested in a particular country or might like to compare their home rate with neighboring countries. Others will see it as pointless navel gazing, of course.
Perhaps you or someone else might experience a brilliant insight? We have enough members.
I'm hoping for some interest, of course.
A chunk of the Discussion section is devoted to the USPSTF recommendations & effects.
At first blush it would be easy to conclude that the answer lies with the Med Diet of Greece, Italy, and Spain with its low consumption of meat and animal fat vs the diet of the Scandinavians with its higher consumption of dairy products. However, with what little I know about these two cultural regions, I could also conclude that health care systems and attitude of men towards going to doctors for prostate exam may also be a contributing factor (not very macho, etc.).--K
In the north of Italy, butter is used more than olive oil - and lard was once very popular.
finedininglovers.com/articl...
Note that I reported only death rates. If screening is low in a particular country - regardless of reasons - PCa will be discovered at a late stage. i.e. the death rate should be higher in a 'macho' country.
What is "V*T*M*N*"?
Vitamins of some types can increase the risk of PCa. I used the regular vitamin E for years + Folic acid before my PCa diagnosis at age of 52.
It isn't a guarantee. The SELECT trial kind of did in E alpha tocopherol and selenium for prevention. The difference wasn't huge though.
Anyway, this is vitamin D3. I don't take se or e. The only ones I take are ferrous bisglycinate, D3, and K2 (MK4 and 7 mix).
SELECT was an extraordinary study in terms of cost & poor design.
Regarding the selenium arms, men received it regardless of selenium status & even if they were already supplementing. Also, the U.S. population is not noted for deficiency. &, it has long been known that the benefit does not increase with dose. So, a small percentage of men were rescued from deficiency, while a larger percentage at the opposite end were put at risk.
In the case of the synthetic alpha tocopherol, it was also well known that the 8 isomers of vitamin E compete for transport. If you increase intake of one, it will drive down levels of the other 7. Particularly protective gamma tocopherol. Dumb.
-Patrick
Widely acknowledged that it didn't put to bed selenium supplementation. However, it did not give any support to high-dose selenium sups.
I agree that it only showed that e alpha-tocopherol might not be good for PCa. Increasing delta and gamma in both forms had and have better evidence for therapy and the trial pretty much caused the inverse situation to occur. Still, in general, I don't like to put things in my body unless I can read good RCT evidence and/or my MO advises me to.
We need to look into studies as you obviously have. Remember the WHI hormone study? They proved that there was a small increase in cancer risk (yet no statistically significant OS change) if you take conjugated equine estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate. Bioidentical anyone?
Oh, vitamin D?
Interesting facts, but what about the U S A?
statista.com/statistics/791...
Arizona #1!!! Lol, I'm in Phoenix.
Don't see the common thread in the state breakdown.
I wanted to see if there is any kind of correlation so I plotted the data in excel and compared it to the longitude of each state.
Results:
Occurrence
average long Best 50% -95.4
average long Worst 50% -87.8
Correlation Coef for all raw data 0.26319864
A weak correlation. The countries have a strong correlation. Both coefficients are positive. Could be a coincidence but that's really stretching IMO. A more likely answer is sun exposure so vitamin D, OR sun exposure so stronger circadian cycle and more melatonin, OR sun exposure fosters more exercise. Or perhaps something else? Until we know the answer I won't spend much time on it. I'll exercise, get my vitamin D, sometimes take melatonin, and go hiking in the sun. I like hiking and exercising so, regardless of what benefits they may or may not have, I enjoy enjoying life.
Good info, I'm going to add this to my book.
Could be that we have so many underlying conditions in all states. That's a major reason our COVID deaths are so heavy.
Possibly education is better in southern states, or more leisure time, or more access to medical care. I really don't know the answer but 70 data points do point to more than chance.
As a native and lifelong Southerner, it can't be education. We never went in for that there book lernin'!
US dermatologists have been warning about sun exposure for so long that many do not leave home without sunscreen.
Isn't latitude more the issue here?
Yes. How did I make that mistake! I'll look at the data again. Interesting that longitude shows a weak correlation. I wonder why or if it matters?
Occurrence Latitude
average Best 50% 35.97831113
average Worst 50% 44.04216625
Thanks for running the spreadsheet again. The latitude difference is impressive. Rapid City SD is at 44 deg. Raleigh NC is about 36. Now feeling good about spending March in Florida. Latitude = 27.
Hey, how 'bout a latitude analysis of PC mortality in the US, rather that just incidence? Wouldn't be surprised if more north = more death.
Found this study:"We showed previously that Caucasian mortality rates from prostate cancer for 1970-1979 are significantly inversely correlated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. We now present the analysis of prostate cancer mortality data over a 45-year period (1950-1994)"
"Results: For U.S. Caucasians, prostate cancer mortality rates at the county and SEA levels followed a significant north-south spatial trend that is the inverse of UV radiation. We found significant inverse correlations between UV radiation and prostate cancer mortality at all time points over this 45-year period. These correlations were significantly more pronounced at locations north of 40 degrees N latitude."
Could it be V*T*M*N?
Nah....
Thanks Patrick,Since no one can accurately predict the future it's better to get buried in studies than unknown potential.
In 2018 2 docs responded to my question with; "months..... Unlikely to see end of 2018..."
While obviously wrong, I'm still here, it did educate me about the seriousness of MY disease. I asked for the estimation. I'm grateful for their honesty.
2Dee
Thank you for posting this study. With children and grandchildren living in Belgium, France and Spain and given my family history, it is of great interest. Cannot help but conclude that med diet and sunny climate are factors. Am regularly reminding my sons about this..
Wow--as if the Baltic states and Scandinavia don't have enough to worry about!
Red wine
Feta Cheese..... OPA!!!
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Tuesday 03/08/2022 10:12 PM EST
SARMs RAD 140 up date
Advice From The Mayo Clinic
PCa prognosis is improving over time
