Systematic review of the impact of a plant-based diet on prostate cancer incidence and outcomes.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.