Health Mailbox

Q: I'm trying to determine if the supplements for prostate health are worth bothering with and if they're effective.

A: A number of products now claim to benefit prostate health, but it's difficult to say whether they work. Research on supplements is still emerging, and there are concerns that some products may not even contain the promised ingredients.

My suggestion is to first check out the science behind any claim by going to www.mayoclinic.com, and clicking on the supplements link, or www.mskcc.org/aboutherbs, a Web site provided by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Both sites give you a good summary of the various studies on supplements and herbs as well as whether the product might interact with a medication or treatment.

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One supplement said to benefit prostate health is the herb saw palmetto. Several studies show that saw palmetto improves some symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, or enlarged prostate, which can cause frequent urination and discomfort. And a study of 30,000 men is now under way to study the potential of two supplements, selenium and vitamin E, in lowering risk for prostate cancer. An earlier study looking at whether selenium could prevent skin cancer found that it didn't, but prostate cancer among the selenium users was 60% lower than the placebo group.

Another study failed to show that vitamin E could stave off lung cancer, but the vitamin E users had a 30% lower rate of prostate cancer -- though it also suggested a higher risk of stroke. The dose being studied is 200 micrograms of selenium and 400 milligrams of vitamin E. By comparison, most multivitamins contain about 50 micrograms of selenium and 50 to 200 milligrams of vitamin E. To find out about the trial go to www.crab.org/select/.

Aside from whether or not a supplement works, consumers should also be concerned about the content of various brands. Several studies by the independent testing group ConsumerLab.com show the bottles you buy often don't contain the amount of an ingredient promised on the label or they contain contaminants. The ConsumerLab site offers free overviews of its research, but to get complete results, you have to subscribe for $9 a month, or $24 a year. A product that has passed muster may also contain a Consumer Lab seal. Sometimes, the Mayo or Sloan-Kettering Web sites will include the name if a particular brand has been studied.

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Q: Please comment on the efficacy of blueberries in increasing and maintaining mental ability. What quantity of blueberries might be required?

A: So much attention is given to the bad foods we eat, I don't think we spend nearly enough time thinking about the healthful foods we should be eating. A good resource for learning more about the health benefits of various foods is the book "Superfoods RX," by ophthalmologist Steven Pratt, who lists blueberries as one of his three most-recommended foods (along with spinach and salmon), and suggests eating one to two cups a day. Another favorite book, "What Color Is Your Diet?" by physician David Heber, director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, also describes the added health benefits we reap from colorful foods like spinach and blueberries.

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants and have been linked with health benefits, including lowering risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, sagging skin, diabetes and degenerative eye disease.

But so far, the purported benefits of blueberries when it comes to brain health are based mostly on animal studies. At Tufts University, aging rats fed the equivalent of one-half to one cup of blueberries a day performed better in certain tasks and showed improved coordination and balance. According to Dr. Pratt, early human studies show that people who consumed a cup of blueberries daily have performed 5% to 6% better on motor-skills tests, but far more human study is needed.

Still, while the verdict on blueberries and brain health is still out, we already know blueberries and other fruits and vegetables are good for you. So if you like them, eat them.

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Q: Will the IRS allow me to deduct the cost of a prescription drug purchased in Canada on my 1040 return?

A: While buying prescription drugs from Canada can save hundreds of dollars a month, it is illegal. The Food and Drug Administration historically has looked the other way. The Internal Revenue Service, however, does not. "Illegally obtained drugs are not deductible," says an IRS spokesman. So if you are buying drugs from Canada, it's worth doing the math or talking to your accountant to find out if you're really saving money or simply losing out on a big tax deduction.