According to a study, eating plenty of fish, olive oil and nuts and limiting chips, cookies and mayonnaise can slow the growth of prostate cancer in its early stages.
New research suggests that simple dietary changes may help reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells in patients undergoing active surveillance.
This is a treatment approach that involves regular monitoring of the cancer without immediate intervention.
The findings show that a diet low in omega-6 but high in omega-3 fatty acids, combined with fish oil supplements, significantly reduced the growth rate of prostate cancer cells in men with early-stage disease.
And it could extend the time before more aggressive treatment is needed, the scientists said.
Many men with low-risk prostate cancer choose active surveillance instead of immediate treatment.
However, within five years, about half will eventually need to undergo therapy with surgery or radiation.
Because of this, patients are eager to find ways to delay the need for treatment, including through dietary changes or supplements.
Diets rich in fish, nuts and olive oil could prolong the time before more aggressive treatment is needed, the scientists said.
Researchers conducted a trial involving 100 men at low or favorable intermediate risk for prostate cancer who chose active surveillance.
Participants were randomly assigned to continue their normal diet or follow a low-omega-6, high-omega-3 diet, supplemented with fish oil, for one year.
This group was given advice about healthier, lower-fat alternatives to high-fat or high-calorie foods, such as using olive oil or lemon and vinegar to dress salads and trying to eat more fish and nuts.
They were also advised to reduce their intake of foods higher in omega-6, such as chips, cookies, mayonnaise and other fried or processed foods.
These participants also received fish oil capsules to further increase their omega-3 intake, while the other group did not receive any dietary advice or take fish oil tablets.
The researchers tracked changes in a biomarker called the Ki-67 index, which indicates how quickly cancer cells multiply, a key predictor of cancer progression, metastasis and survival.
More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year on average in the UK, making it the most common cancer in men. Around 12,000 men die each year from this disease, the equivalent of one every 45 minutes.
The analysis showed that after one year, the group with a diet low in omega-6 and rich in omega-3 and fish oil had a 15 percent decrease in the Ki-67 index, while the control group experienced a 24 percent increase.
Dr. William Aronson, professor of urology at UCLA and first author of the study, said, “This is an important step toward understanding how diet can potentially influence prostate cancer outcomes.”
‘Many men are interested in lifestyle changes, including diet, to help control cancer and prevent disease progression.
“Our findings suggest that something as simple as adjusting diet could potentially slow cancer growth and extend the time before more aggressive interventions are needed.”
While the results are promising, the researchers found no differences in other cancer growth markers that are commonly used to track prostate cancer progression.
The findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.