A healthy diet may help keep prostate cancer growth in check
In the journals
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Men with low-grade prostate cancer on active surveillance who follow a healthy diet may reduce the risk of their cancer becoming more aggressive, suggests a study published online Oct. 17, 2024, by JAMA Oncology.
Researchers recruited 886 men (average age 66) diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer (meaning the cancer is slow growing and less likely to spread) who followed active surveillance, meaning they did not seek treatment yet but regularly monitored their cancer for changes. The men completed food questionnaires to establish a Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score ranging from zero to 100. The HEI score reflects a person's overall diet quality based on recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, such as consuming a variety of foods across main food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat) and limiting intake of total and saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
Participants were followed for approximately 6.5 years. Over that period, the prostate cancer was less likely to grow and spread in the men with higher HEI scores (indicating they followed a healthy diet), compared with the men who had lower HEI scores.
A possible connection between diet and prostate cancer may relate to inflammation, which can fuel cancer growth. Men with high HEI scores followed a diet with known anti-inflammatory foods. In comparison, low HEI scores reflected diets with higher amounts of inflammatory foods.
Image: © Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images
About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
