Effect of Diet on Prostate Health

Effect of Diet on Prostate Health

March 4, 2024

Joy Stepinski, MSN, RN-BC

A recent Medscape headline caught my eye, “Plant-Based Diet a Boon for Men with Prostate Cancer” [1].  The original article, published in a current edition of the journal Cancer, examined the effects of a plant-based dietary pattern on quality of life among men diagnosed with prostate cancer [2]. The authors explained that a plant-centered dietary pattern consists of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains with low animal protein intake.

The study was part of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS), which is ongoing observational research that started in 1986. The original goal was to identify an association between health conditions and lifestyle factors. A prior HPFS study demonstrated that a plant-based dietary pattern led to a lower incidence of diagnosed advanced prostate cancer.

 In this specific research, 3505 participants were included of 8204 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Food intake was collected through a self-reported food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) administered at the beginning of the HPFS and subsequently every four years. The authors investigated if a plant-based diet impacted quality of life after the men’s prostate cancer diagnosis. Included were men who underwent radical prostatectomy (48%) and radiation therapy (35%). The results concluded that men who consumed a plant-centered dietary pattern demonstrated improved quality of life. They experienced better sexual function, less urinary irritation and incontinence, improved bowel function, and greater vitality.

Nutrition matters greatly with consideration to health. Plant-centered foods are filled with fiber and antioxidants. Diets that lean heavily on animal protein cause inflammation in the body. In prior studies, inflammation has been linked to prostate disease and symptoms like urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and depression. This research adds to the growing literature that plant-centered diets are imperative in preventing and treating many chronic conditions.

References:

1.        Wolinsky, H. (2024). Plant-based diet a boon for men with prostate cancer. Medscape Medical News.

2.        Loeb, S., Hua, Q., Bauer, S. R., Kenfield, S. A., Morgans, A. K., Chan, J. M., ... & Mucci, L. A. (2024). Plant‐based diet associated with better quality of life in prostate cancer survivors. Cancer, 1 – 11. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.35172