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Plant-based diet associated with better quality of life in prostate cancer survivors.

Cancer
May 1, 2024
Stacy Loeb et al. (9 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to examine the relationship between plant-based diet indices postdiagnosis and quality-of-life domains in individuals with nonmetastatic prostate cancer.

Results Summary

A higher plant-based diet index was associated with better scores in sexual function, urinary irritation/obstruction, urinary incontinence, and hormonal/vitality. Healthful plant-based foods also showed associations with improved sexual and bowel function, urinary incontinence, and hormonal/vitality in age-adjusted analysis, though not in multivariable analysis.

Population

3,505 male participants with nonmetastatic prostate cancer from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986–2016).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Median time from diagnosis/treatment to first quality-of-life questionnaire was 7.0 years.

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (12)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
plant-based diets
decrease
fatal prostate cancer
-
-
have many health benefits, including a lower risk
#1
plant-based diets
increase
environmental sustainability
-
-
greater environmental sustainability
#2
plant-based diets
neutral
quality of life
individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer
-
less is known regarding the impact
#3
higher plant-based diet index
increase
sexual function
participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with nonmetastatic prostate cancer
-
was associated with better scores
#4
higher plant-based diet index
increase
urinary irritation/obstruction
participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with nonmetastatic prostate cancer
-
was associated with better scores
#5
higher plant-based diet index
increase
urinary incontinence
participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with nonmetastatic prostate cancer
-
was associated with better scores
#6
higher plant-based diet index
increase
hormonal/vitality
participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with nonmetastatic prostate cancer
-
was associated with better scores
#7
consuming more healthful plant-based foods
increase
sexual function
participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with nonmetastatic prostate cancer
-
was associated with better
#8
consuming more healthful plant-based foods
increase
bowel function
participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with nonmetastatic prostate cancer
-
was associated with better
#9
consuming more healthful plant-based foods
increase
urinary incontinence
participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with nonmetastatic prostate cancer
-
was associated with better
#10
consuming more healthful plant-based foods
increase
hormonal/vitality scores
participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study with nonmetastatic prostate cancer
-
was associated with better
#11
greater consumption of healthful plant-based foods
increase
quality-of-life domains
patients with prostate cancer
modestly
is associated with modestly higher scores
#12
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Plant-based diets have many health benefits, including a lower risk of fatal prostate cancer, and greater environmental sustainability. However, less is known regarding the impact of plant-based diets on quality of life among individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer. The authors' objective was to examine the relationship between plant-based diet indices postdiagnosis with quality of life. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 3505 participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986-2016) with nonmetastatic prostate cancer. Food-frequency questionnaires were used to calculate overall and healthful plant-based diet indices. Quality-of-life scores were calculated using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations over time between plant-based diet indices and quality-of-life domains (sexual functioning, urinary irritation/obstruction, urinary incontinence, bowel functioning, hormonal/vitality), adjusted for demographics, oncologic history, body mass index, caloric intake, health-related behaviors, and comorbidities. RESULTS: The median age at prostate cancer diagnosis was 68 years; 48% of patients underwent radical prostatectomy, and 35% received radiation as primary therapy. The median time from diagnosis/treatment to first the quality-of-life questionnaire was 7.0 years. A higher plant-based diet index was associated with better scores for sexual function, urinary irritation/obstruction, urinary incontinence, and hormonal/vitality. Consuming more healthful plant-based foods was also associated with better sexual and bowel function, as well as urinary incontinence and hormonal/vitality scores in the age-adjusted analysis, but not in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective study provides supportive evidence that greater consumption of healthful plant-based foods is associated with modestly higher scores in quality-of-life domains among patients with prostate cancer.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
MaleHumansAgedProstateQuality of LifeProspective StudiesFollow-Up StudiesCancer SurvivorsDiet, Plant-BasedProstatic NeoplasmsUrinary IncontinenceProstatectomy
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations4
Citations/Year4.0
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.93
Normalized Score0.67
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