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. 2022 Sep;25(3):444-452.
doi: 10.1038/s41391-022-00553-2. Epub 2022 Jul 5.

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

Natasha Gupta  1   2 , Hiten D Patel  3 , Jacob Taylor  4 , James F Borin  4 , Kenneth Jacobsohn  5 , Stacey A Kenfield  6 , Scott E Eggener  7 , Carrie Price  8 , Meena Davuluri  9 , Nataliya Byrne  4   10 , Trinity J Bivalacqua  11 , Stacy Loeb  4   10
Affiliations

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

Natasha Gupta et al. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis. 2022 Sep.

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

COI: None

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) flowchart of the search process
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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