Eating a low fat, high-fiber, plant-based diet and practicing stress reduction techniques may slow the growth of prostate tumors in men with recurrent prostate cancer, according to a study at University of California, San Diego.
Because approximately 35% of men treated for prostate cancer experience a recurrence, and because previous studies have shown a diet high in fat - particularly saturated fat, found in meat and whole-milk dairy products - is associated with prostate cancer, researchers set out to test whether a low-saturated fat diet, combined with stress reduction, would slow the rate of increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a marker for prostate cancer.
Ten men, ranging in age from 56 to 78, were studied. They had all been previously treated for prostate cancer by undergoing radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) and now had increasing PSA levels, suggesting early stages of recurrent prostate cancer.
The men were prescribed a plant-based diet that consisted mainly of whole grains, beans and seeds, fruits and vegetables, and soy foods. Processed and refined foods, meat and dairy products, and caffeine were strictly limited.
To help them follow the diet, the men received individual nutrition counseling and attended 12 weekly classes (3 to 4 hours each) led by a licensed nutritionist and a vegetarian chef. They were accompanied at the class by their spouse or other support person. The classes also featured instruction on “mindfulness-based” stress reduction, including meditation, yoga, and social support.
After four months of following the diet and practicing stress reduction, the men’s PSA levels were tested and compared against their levels recorded at the beginning of the study. The rate of PSA increase slowed significantly in 8 of the 10 men; three of these men had an actual decrease in their PSA level.
Not only were PSA levels positively affected, but also all ten of the men lost weight (the average weight loss was 13.8 pounds). They also reported other positive aspects, including improved blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, as well as increased energy and feelings of well being.
These results are promising, but hardly definitive. Because this study involved such a small group of men, further experiments in larger groups of men are necessary to corroborate the results.
It’s also important to note that this study measured PSA as a marker for prostate cancer, but did not measure tumor progression directly. Therefore, the results cannot determine if diet and stress reduction actually affected tumor progression, although increased PSA levels are closely correlated with prostate cancer recurrence.
Still, the results add to existing evidence that a high-fiber, low-fat diet and stress reduction are important for health and well being.
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