A recent study published online in JAMA Network Open suggests that adopting a primarily plant-based diet may lead to better cancer-specific health outcomes for men with prostate cancer.
Led by Vivian N. Liu from the University of California, San Francisco, the study aimed to investigate the potential association between post-diagnostic plant-based dietary patterns and the risk of prostate cancer progression and prostate cancer-specific mortality. The analysis encompassed 2,062 participants enrolled in the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor study, conducted across multiple sites.
The findings revealed that men in the highest quintile of the Plant-based Diet Index (PDI) had a significantly lower risk of progression compared to those in the lowest quintile (hazard ratio, 0.53). Notably, there was no discernible association between healthful PDI and overall risk of progression. However, among participants diagnosed with Gleason grade ≥7 (680 men), those in the highest healthful PDI quintile exhibited a reduced risk of progression compared to those in the lowest quintile (hazard ratio, 0.45).
In light of these findings, the authors emphasize the potential benefits of plant-based dietary patterns in mitigating the risk of prostate cancer progression. They acknowledge the need for further research and replication of their results but underscore the consistency with previous studies highlighting the role of dietary factors in overall health and well-being.