A recent cohort study has shed light on the potential benefits of plant-based diets for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The study, involving 2,062 men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer, explored the impact of post-diagnostic plant-based dietary patterns on prostate cancer progression and mortality.
The research, led by the University of California, San Francisco, USA, found that men with the highest intake of plant-based foods, as measured by the overall plant-based diet index (PDI), had a 47% lower risk of prostate cancer progression compared to those with the lowest intake. This includes progression events such as recurrence, secondary treatments, bone metastases, or prostate cancer-specific mortality. Interestingly, while the overall PDI was associated with reduced risk, the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI) did not show a significant association with progression risk overall. However, for those with a Gleason grade of 7, or higher, the highest hPDI quintile was linked to a 55% lower risk of progression compared to the lowest quintile.
The study’s findings align with previous research suggesting that plant-based diets can be beneficial in managing prostate cancer. Plant-based diets are rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which provide various health benefits, including the intake of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. These elements are thought to play a role in reducing cancer progression. Additionally, plant-based diets tend to be lower in animal products, which have been linked to increased cancer risks.
Despite these positive associations, the study acknowledges some limitations including the reliance on self-reported dietary data, which can be prone to error, and the inability to fully control for all potential confounders are notable. Furthermore, the study population was predominantly college-educated and White males, which may limit the generalisability of the findings.
The study provides compelling evidence that a higher intake of plant-based foods after a prostate cancer diagnosis is associated with a lower risk of cancer progression. These findings suggest that dietary interventions emphasising plant-based foods could be a valuable strategy in managing prostate cancer, although further research is needed to confirm these results and explore their broader applicability.
Katie Wright, EMJ
Reference
Liu VN et al. Plant-based diets and disease progression in men with prostate cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(5):e249053.
