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Systematic review of the impact of a plant-based diet on prostate cancer incidence and outcomes.

Prostate cancer and prostatic diseases
September 1, 2022
Natasha Gupta et al. (12 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewSystematic ReviewResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.Human Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to systematically review the effects of plant-based diets on prostate cancer risk, oncologic outcomes, and general health/nutrition in at-risk men and patients with prostate cancer.

Results Summary

Interventional studies showed improvements in short-term oncologic outcomes and general health, while observational studies indicated either protective or null associations between plant-based diets and prostate cancer risk, with vegan diets consistently showing favorable results.

Population

Men at risk for prostate cancer, patients with prostate cancer (including those on active surveillance or with biochemical recurrence), and caregivers.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
lifestyle modification including plant-based diets
increase
short-term oncologic outcomes
men on active surveillance for localized prostate cancer or with biochemical recurrence after treatment
-
showing improvements
#1
lifestyle modification including plant-based diets
increase
general health and nutrition
men on active surveillance for localized prostate cancer or with biochemical recurrence after treatment
-
showing improvements
#2
plant-based dietary patterns
no change
prostate cancer risk
at-risk men
-
showing either protective or null associations
#3
vegan diet
decrease
risk and/or outcomes
-
-
consistently showed favorable associations
#4
lifestyle modifications incorporating a plant-based diet
increase
prostate cancer outcomes
patients with prostate cancer
-
showed generally favorable results
#5
lifestyle modifications incorporating a plant-based diet
increase
improvements in nutrition and general health
patients with prostate cancer
-
showed generally favorable results
#6
plant-based diets
decrease
prostate cancer
-
-
demonstrated either a lower risk
#7
plant-based diets
no change
prostate cancer risk
-
-
demonstrated no significant difference
#8
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Plant-based diets are increasingly popular and have many well-established benefits for health and environmental sustainability. Our objective was to perform a systematic review of plant-based diets and prostate cancer. METHODS: We performed a systematic database and citation search in February 2022. Studies were included if they reported primary data on plant-based dietary patterns (i.e., vegan, vegetarian, plant-based) and incidence among at-risk men for prostate cancer, or oncologic, general health/nutrition, or quality of life outcomes among patients with prostate cancer or caregivers. RESULTS: A total of 32 publications were eligible for the qualitative synthesis, representing 5 interventional and 11 observational studies. Interventional studies primarily focused on lifestyle modification including plant-based diets for men on active surveillance for localized prostate cancer or with biochemical recurrence after treatment, showing improvements in short-term oncologic outcomes alongside improvements in general health and nutrition. Observational studies primarily focused on prostate cancer risk, showing either protective or null associations for plant-based dietary patterns. Studies of the vegan diet consistently showed favorable associations with risk and/or outcomes. Gaps in the current literature include impact for long-term disease-specific outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional studies showed generally favorable results of lifestyle modifications incorporating a plant-based diet with prostate cancer outcomes as well as improvements in nutrition and general health. Observational studies demonstrated either a lower risk of prostate cancer or no significant difference. These results are encouraging in light of the many benefits of plant-based diets for overall health, as well as environmental sustainability and animal welfare.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
DietDiet, VeganHumansIncidenceLife StyleMaleProstatic NeoplasmsQuality of Life
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy80/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations19
Citations/Year6.3
Relative Citation Ratio2.03
NIH Percentile75%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.66
Normalized Score0.67
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