Study Finds Link between Prostate Cancer and Diet

Nov, 2020 - By WMR

The research is based on three main dietary profiles such as sugar-rich Western diet, salty Western diet, and a healthy diet.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, more than 23,000 individuals across Canada will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020. Previous studies suggest diet as a major factor in the development of prostate cancer, as it is for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Some previous studies have observed improvements in metabolic health, fat distribution, and body composition in response to a low-carb diet. Over the years, low-carb, high-fat diets have attracted public interest because they promote weight loss and heart health. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths for men in the United States.

Around one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. During this research, the researchers used data from a study conducted between 2005 and 2012 in Montreal. The research showed a connection between prostate cancer and diet in the article published in the Nutrients journal. The research is based on three main dietary profiles such as sugar-rich Western diet including beverages, a salty Western diet with alcohol, and a healthy diet.

The sugar-rich Western diet includes sugary carbonated drinks, desserts, pizza, and pasta. The salty Western diet leans heavily towards meat and beverages such as wine and beer. The third dietary profile includes vegetables, fruits, and plant proteins such as nuts and tofu. The study took the date of last prostate cancer screening, family history, education, ethnicity, and age into account. The team found a connection between a lower risk of prostate cancer and a healthy diet. On the other hand, they found that the Western diet with beverages is linked to higher risk and seems to be a factor in more aggressive forms of cancer. Moreover, the research showed no clear connection between the Western diet with alcohol and salt and the risk of the disease.