Plant-Based Diet Reduces Risk of Prostate Cancer Progression

A recent poster presentation for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) determined that a plant-based diet is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer progression. The study used data from the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavour (CaPSURE) on 2,038 men with stage 1–3a prostate cancer.

Using data from the patient’s food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), researchers calculated overall plant-based dietary indices (PDI) and health plant-based dietary indices (hPDI). Throughout the length of the study, there were 204 incidences of progression.

Data suggests that a higher PDI correlated with a 52% lower risk of progression when comparing the highest and lowest quintile. Furthermore, those in the highest PDI group were 52% less likely than those in the lowest group to have prostate cancer recurrence.

Additional data suggested that increased older populations saw a more significant reduction in recurrence. The researchers did not identify any statistically significant trends in the rate of recurrence or progression based on hPDI; however, they noted that patients were at lower risk.

“This study indicates that plant-based dietary patterns are associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer progression and recurrence, particularly among older men and those who reported a higher intensity walking pace. Prostate cancer survivors may be recommended diet and exercise counseling to improve clinical outcomes after prostate cancer diagnosis,” concluded the researchers in the presentation.

This data provides additional insight into the benefits of a plant-based diet for prostate cancer. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, data has proven that vegetarian diets decrease the risk of death by heart disease and cancer by 29% and 18%, respectively.

More specifically, a 2022 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition determined that a plant-based diet was linked to a 19% lower incidence of prostate cancer.

The data collected by ASCO and other studies may help determine appropriate nutritional guidelines for men at higher risk of prostate cancer, progression, or recurrence; however, additional research must be done to confirm these results.