Prostate cancer and cayenne pepper (US rates)

November 28, 2010

Thanks Marg for the reminder about the potential of hot peppers. I was

particularly curious about the statement regarding New Mexico having the lowest

death rate. Given the research showing the specific effects of cayenne on

prostate cancer, you'd expect NM to have the lowest death rate.

The stats might suggest something else. At the National Cancer Institute's

website

we find that the age-adjusted annual death rate is lowest in Hawaii, Florida,

North Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming (ranging from 16-21 deaths per

100,000...in contrast to NM with a 24-25 deaths per 100,000). It would be

difficult to argue that the death rate is lower in these states because of

pepper consumption (or even better medical intervention or sunlight exposure)

given their significant differences in location and culture. What other factors

might link these states? Looking more closely at the COUNTIES within these

states (see pro maps section at NCI), there are some counties in NM that are

very high (skewing the data for the state as a whole) and others, very low.

The prostate cancer incidence rate, however, is lowest in Arizona, Alaska,

Hawaii, Indiana and New Mexcio (ranging from 120-135 cases per 100,000

population per year). I can see here a possible argument favoring pepper

consumption.

A look at the World Health Organization's Globocan provides another perspective

(likely affected in part by how the country's medical system screens/reports),

with the lowest rates prostate cancer (incidence and mortality) being in Asia

and the higher rates in South America, West/South Africa, Sweden and Australia.

Note that the data are age-adjusted.

All very interesting, but not particularly supporting the unique/isolated

effects of cayenne pepper.

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regards,

Jeff

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