In the news: Plant-Based Diet Linked to Better Quality of Life and Outcome

A Plant-Bsed Diet Tied to Better Quality of Life in Men with Prostate Cancer

The most common cancer in men, excluding skin cancer, is prostate cancer. So it’s no wonder that one research priority is to identify nutritional strategies to bolster the health of those who have developed this cancer. One nutritional approach that has been associated with better prostate health is a plant-based diet – one rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts with fewer animal products such as meat and dairy.

Two recently published studies back up previous research showing that a diet that favors plant foods may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and improve survivorship.

Results from the first study(1,2) suggest that a plant-based diet can improve urinary and sexual health in men treated for non-metastatic prostate cancer – cancer that has not spread to other tissues.

The study looked at the regularly gathered nutrition data of over 3,500 health professionals with prostate cancer in the large scale Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The participants were grouped by the proportion of plant vs. animal derived foods the men reported eating.

Every 2 years the men filled out questionnaires that assessed quality of life, including questions related to various adverse effects that can be encountered after undergoing common treatments for this cancer, such as urinary incontinence, issues with sexual or bowel function, and problems with mood and energy.

Those consuming the most plant-based foods had 8-11% better quality of life questionnaire scores related to sexual function compared to men eating the least.

Comparing highest vs. lowest plant-based food, consumers also showed up to 14% better scores for urinary health, with fewer instances of incontinence, obstruction, and irritation.

Similarly, this highest vs. lowest comparison revealed up to 13% better scores in hormonal health, which measures symptoms like low energy, depression, and hot flashes.

According to the authors, these beneficial associations were seen regardless of lifestyle differences, or history of other medical issues, such as having diabetes.

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

If embracing plant foods may help ease some of the common side effects of prostate cancer treatments, a plant-based diet could also lessen the risk of the cancer worsening.

The second study(3,4), conducted by UC San Francisco investigators, reports that eating a mostly plant-based diet was linked with a nearly 50% lower risk that prostate cancer would progress compared to those eating the most animal products.

Similar to the first study, this investigation of more than 2,000 men with localized prostate cancer used a plant-based eating index and sorted the men by how they scored on the index. Comparing highest to lowest index scores revealed a 47% lower risk of cancer progession in those consuming the most plant based foods.

Similar to the first study, this investigation of more than 2,000 men with localized prostate cancer used a plant-based eating index and sorted the men by how they scored on the index. Comparing highest to lowest index scores revealed a 47% lower risk of cancer progession in those consuming the most plant based foods.

This dietary difference amounted to eating just 1 or 2 more servings per day of healthy foods, particularly vegetables, fruits and whole grains, while eating fewer animal products.

The authors point out that fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory compounds that have been shown to protect against prostate cancer in previous research (e.g. cruciferous vegetables, cooked tomatoes, vegetable fats.)

References

1. Loeb S, et al. Plant-based diet associated with quality of life in prostate cancer survivors. Cancer. Epub 2-13, 2024.
2. Plant-based diet tied to improved sexual health in mean treated for prostate cancer. News release NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health. 2-13, 2024.
3. Liu VN, et al. Plant-Based Diets and Disease Proression in Men With Prostate Cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 7: e249053, May 1, 2024.
4. UCSF news release. Prostate Cancer Study: More Health Benefits from Plant-Based Diet. May 13, 2004.