Phase II prospective randomized trial of a low-fat diet with fish oil supplementation in men undergoing radical prostatectomy.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if a low-fat diet combined with fish oil supplementation (to achieve an omega-6:omega-3 ratio of 2:1) could influence biomarkers related to prostate cancer development and progression.
Results Summary
The study found no effect on the primary outcome (serum IGF-1 levels) but observed reduced prostate tissue omega-6:omega-3 ratios and decreased proliferation markers in the low-fat fish oil group compared to the Western diet group.
Population
Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.
Effective Dosage
5 grams of fish oil daily.
Duration
4-6 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
lowering dietary fat and decreasing the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids | decrease | the risk of prostate cancer development and progression | - | - | decreases | #1 |
decreasing dietary fat combined with decreasing the dietary omega-6:omega-3 ratio | neutral | biomarkers related to prostate cancer development and progression | - | - | test the effect of | #2 |
a low-fat diet with 5 grams of fish oil daily (dietary omega-6:omega-3 ratio of 2:1) | no change | change in serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) | Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy | - | no treatment difference | #3 |
low-fat fish oil versus Western group | decrease | benign and malignant prostate tissue omega-6:omega-3 ratios | Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy | - | reduced | #4 |
low-fat fish oil versus Western group | decrease | proliferation (Ki-67 index) | Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy | - | reduced | #5 |
low-fat fish oil versus Western group | decrease | proliferation in an ex vivo bioassay when patient sera was applied to prostate cancer cells in vitro | Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy | - | reduced | #6 |
four to six weeks of a low-fat diet and fish oil capsules to achieve an omega-6:omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 2:1 | no change | serum IGF-1 levels | - | - | had no effect on | #7 |
the intervention | decrease | prostate cancer proliferation | - | - | resulted in decreased | #8 |
the intervention | decrease | prostate tissue omega-6:omega-3 ratios | - | - | resulted in decreased | #9 |
Preclinical studies suggest lowering dietary fat and decreasing the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids decreases the risk of prostate cancer development and progression. We conducted a phase II randomized trial to test the effect of decreasing dietary fat combined with decreasing the dietary omega-6:omega-3 ratio on biomarkers related to prostate cancer development and progression. Patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were randomly assigned to receive a low-fat diet with 5 grams of fish oil daily (dietary omega-6:omega-3 ratio of 2:1) or a control Western diet (omega-6:omega-3 ratio of 15:1) for four to six weeks prior to surgery. The primary endpoint was change in serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) between arms. Secondary endpoints were serum IGFBP-1, prostate prostaglandin E2 levels, omega-6:omega-3 fatty acid ratios, COX-2, and markers of proliferation and apoptosis. Fifty-five patients were randomized and 48 completed the trial. There was no treatment difference in the primary outcome. Positive secondary outcomes in the low-fat fish oil versus Western group were reduced benign and malignant prostate tissue omega-6:omega-3 ratios, reduced proliferation (Ki-67 index), and reduced proliferation in an ex vivo bioassay when patient sera was applied to prostate cancer cells in vitro. In summary, four to six weeks of a low-fat diet and fish oil capsules to achieve an omega-6:omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 2:1 had no effect on serum IGF-1 levels, though in secondary analyses, the intervention resulted in decreased prostate cancer proliferation and decreased prostate tissue omega-6:omega-3 ratios. These results support further studies evaluating reduction of dietary fat with fish oil supplementation on modulating prostate cancer biology.