A PLANT-BASED diet is linked to greater quality of life among patients treated for prostate cancer, with reported improvements in sexual function, urinary health, and hormone health, according to new research.
Lead author Stacy Loeb, New York University Langone Health, USA, and colleagues, analysed data from the Health Professional Follow-Up Study (1986–2016), including 3,505 males with non-metastatic prostate cancer. Food frequency questionnaires were used to calculate plant-based diet indices, and quality of life scores were calculated using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC). Quality of life domains included sexual functioning, urinary irritation/obstruction, urinary incontinence, bowel functioning, and hormonal health/vitality. Patients were divided into five groups based on the proportion of animal versus plant-based food consumed, and associations over time were adjusted for demographics, oncologic history, BMI, caloric intake, health-related behaviours, and comorbidities.
The median age at prostate cancer diagnosis was 68 years, and median time from diagnosis/treatment to the first quality of life questionnaire was 7 years. More than 83% of patients in the study underwent treatment for prostate cancer, with 48% of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy, and 35% receiving radiation as primary therapy.
Results showed that patients consuming the highest proportion of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains, and less meat and dairy, scored 8–11% higher in measures of sexual function, compared with the group consuming the least. Furthermore, those in the highest quintile of plant-based consumption were shown to have up to 14% higher scores for urinary health, with fewer instances of urinary irritation, obstruction, and incontinence. The highest quintile also demonstrated up to 13% higher scores in hormonal health, assessing symptoms such as depression, hot flashes, and low energy.
A limitation of the study was that patients were mostly White healthcare professionals. Loeb noted that the team will now expand their research to a more diverse group of patients, including those with more advanced prostate cancer.
“Our findings offer hope for those looking for ways to improve their quality of life after undergoing surgery, radiation, and other common therapies for prostate cancer, which can cause significant side effects,” concluded Loeb. She emphasised that adding more fruits and vegetables to their diet, while reducing meat and dairy consumption, is a simple step that patients can take.
