Plant-Based Diets Linked to Lower Risk of Prostate Cancer Progression

A comprehensive study led by Vivian N. Liu and colleagues, recently published in JAMA Network Open, suggests that consuming a plant-based diet after being diagnosed with prostate cancer may be associated with a reduced risk of disease progression.

The study, part of the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE), followed a group of men diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer over several years, examining the connection between their postdiagnostic plant-based dietary patterns and the risk of disease progression and prostate cancer-specific mortality.

Researchers utilized detailed dietary intake information from the participants, who had completed a comprehensive diet and lifestyle questionnaire between 2004 and 2016. They then calculated participants' adherence to plant-based diets using two indices: the overall plant-based diet index (PDI) and the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI).

The study's main outcome was to assess the incidence of prostate cancer progression, which included recurrence, secondary treatment, bone metastases, or death specifically related to prostate cancer. A secondary objective was to examine the risk of fatalities exclusively linked to prostate cancer.

Out of the 2,062 men involved (median age of 65), following up for a median of 6.5 years after completing the dietary questionnaire, there were 190 events related to cancer progression and 61 deaths caused by prostate cancer. Findings showed that men in the highest quintile of PDI intake had a 47% lower risk of cancer progression compared to men in the lowest quintile. However, the healthful PDI (hPDI) was not substantially connected across the board. Still, a more significant link was observed among patients who were initially diagnosed with a higher Gleason grade, a measure of prostate cancer aggressiveness.

While the results didn't establish a strong connection between plant-based dietary patterns and the decreased risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality, the authors consider the data consistent with other studies suggesting the benefits of dietary factors on overall health. They also noted that more research and replication of their findings are necessary to strengthen these conclusions.

The significance of this study lies in its suggestion that dietary modifications toward more plant-based foods could support well-being and potentially influence the progression of prostate cancer. The researchers believe nutritional counseling may be advisable for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer to establish healthy dietary habits.

For more details about this study, refer to the full article in JAMA Network Open at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9053.

This news report was prepared with information available up until April 2023 and was built with the help of https://www.buoyhealth.com.