Plant-based diet associated with better quality of life in prostate cancer survivorsStacy Loeb MD, MSc, PhD (Hon), Qi Hua MSc, Scott R. Bauer MD, ScM, Stacey A. Kenfield ScM ScD, Alicia K. Morgans MD, MPH, June M. Chan ScD, Erin L. Van Blarigan ScM, ScD, Alaina H. Shreves MS, Lorelei A. Mucci MPH, ScD
Presented as a poster at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting; June 2–6, 2023; Chicago, Illinois.
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.
Written by
Graham49
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Go figure! I still blame my PC on me. All the genomics, family history, etc etc do not suggest PC. It was me. Overweight, terrible diet and constant pressure on my prostate from sitting and forward leaning at my desk for 40 years(ME/EE).
Just "modesly higher"? Seems to me the more healthy food we eat the less unhealthy food we eat - so maybe it's that less unhealthy food is consumed? I have always been very fit and active and healthy, eaten very well, yes some meat and fish, but with focus on the true healthy raised meats. None-the-less, prostate cancer.
I too do not think that is more the "healthy" food part that might be more telling than the plant food. Meat often gets a bad rap but most studies do not/cannot isolate other factors (quality of meat, is it grass raised and grass finished? does it include cold cuts that have nitrates in them,... )
Some people that are purely carnivore are doing very well and are healthy.
Some people doing vegan are doing very well but others not so much. Because as a vegan you are still allowed to eat things from grains, wheat, seed oils, dangerous soy-based products, etc...
In either case, I think that the most important is to eat Whole Food, whether it is plant-based or meat. Depending on the time of year, I like to alternate my diet but all year long I do stay away from processed foods (bread, pasta,...) and ultra-processed foods (Doritos, Cheetos, Canola oil, and most things that comes in a box or can). I am not a purist. If I go to a family dinner that serves pasta, I will eat like everyone that time. But those events are usually less than 10 times a year.
The issue with the study is that we do not know what they consider HEALTHFUL plant-based foods. To be healthful, it should only contain items that are found in nature and are perishable in a matter of days. If it can last weeks or more, it is processed, not natural.
Also food questionnaires are not reliable as who clearly remembers what they ate throughout a long time? Most cannot reliably remember what they ate a week ago and might forget a piece of cake here and there.
Whole food and regular physical exercises is the way to go. Regardless of how much of an impact it will have in prolonging the longevity, they will still provide with a healthier future and QoL than if you ate processed food and did not keep physically active.
No one doing vegan is doing well. If someone turning to the vegan diet feels great at first, it's because they have stopped eating junk food. Long-term vegans think they feel great but have no idea what 'feeling great' truly is. Does a vegan salivate thinking about broccoli?
We've evolved to eat animals. Protein and fat is the ideal fuel, not carbs. That's it. Grass-fed meat is the ideal food; but even eating non-grass-fed meat is still massively more healthy than vegan, vegetarian, junk-food diets.
Consuming large amounts of carbohydrates is the problem. Carbohydrate poisoning. Remove the carbs. Eat animal fat. Just because a "food" is found in nature doesn't mean it's healthy for us. We've been told that vegetables, fruit and grains are healthy. They're not. And in many parts of the world they're sprayed with poison: glyphosate being the main one.
When looking to eat/drink something, I always ask the question: Can my body use this to rebuild and repair me?
Meat: Yes. Complete protein. The body is hungry for it.
Fat: Yes. Fuels the brain. Doesn't poison it like sugar/carbs. Our cells need fat to maintain their structure. Fat is needed for hormone production: Take note, ladies. Keeps us regular: Fibre irritates the lining of the gut, leading to inflammation, leading to disease.
Vegetables: Sort of. Inferior, incomplete protein. Why would we want to be made out of inferior protein? Vegetables are survival food when meat isn't available.
Fruit: No. High in sugar (much, much higher than before "scientists" decided to make it sweeter and more addictive.)
And as for remembering what I ate a few days, weeks, months, years ago: it was meat and fat.
When you mention "inferior, incomplete protein" with regards to vegetables, is that about the 6 essential amino acids vs 9 for meat or was the inferiority referencing something else?
Problem is that (still) too many people think that grains, vegetables, and fruit are healthy; and meat and fat are unhealthy.
What do you mean by 'eaten very well'?
Do you consider grains to be healthy, and do you eat them? I don't consider grains, vegetables or fruit to be healthy. Meat + Animal fat + Salt + Water + Weight-bearing exercise = Healthy = Disease-free.
Intended as a friendly reply, I chose the general statement eaten very well, recognizing the many disparities we face regarding diet; as we do with diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. I did not pass judgement on what others think and do, and would never jump to conclusion such as " = Disease-free".
I have found a similar study a few days ago, but it talked mainly about metastatic breast cancer (that is, anyway, a hormone related cancer like PCa). They have found a modest improvement related to cancer itself, but a great improvement regarding metabolic syndrome, weight gaining and so on. Which is great, because we face a fierce enemy, we need all our strength and no other disease in our bodies!
First thing I'll point out is the conflicts of interest with that. Apart from that, this is another questionnaire type study.I can't tell you what I had for breakfast two days ago. I suspect that people filling out this study can't either.
I don't think I'd personally be relying on that for any decision making.
Lots of people here have a transformative moment on a PCa diagnosis and then commit to doing a plant-based diet. This may be a very good thing.
By my question is "what's your theory and where's the evidence?"
The study presented here, I think it's from Harvard, is of the worst possible kind of study. "Food-frequency questionnaires" are notoriously unreliable. And easily agenda-driven. And all we get are "modest benefits". We can't see the actual figures but I'm pretty sure the modest benefits are within the very wide standard error of a food frequency questionnaire.
It will be fun to see if this shows up in mainstream media promoting plant-based diets!
Value to readers on HealthUnlocked MaleCare? Zero.
Questionnaire type studies simply confirm whatever bias the researchers have - of no scientific value whatever. As I have written many times our disease came about through millions of interactions - simply omitting a particular food type is not going to change our disease prospects one little bit.
Just my opinion but I am almost 80 do you really think that converting to VEGAN or some other plant based diet is going to have a real impact on my cancer or longevity.
I have always exercised my entire life, ate in moderation and watched my weight. I eat very little processed foods and cook my meals fresh daily and make sure I eat plenty of fruits and veggies. That is the best I can do.
Sorry to say but if you abused your body for years going plant based for a couple of years is not going to help. You have already missed the real window of opportunity.
QOL?? QOL! I was Dx’d with TWO primary cancers in 1995, multiple surgeries in 1996, SBRT Radiation months ago, Diabetes in 2000.
I fought in an ugly war, have two wives, two kids, two grandkids and two cats. Over the last quarter century (you read that right! Almost 30 years) I absolutely have enjoyed single malt Scotches and small batch Bourbons, a perfect mid-rare steak and bacon with my breakfast. I think I have EARNED IT! QOL? Eat plants? HA! We are carnivores, period. You can choose what you wish. A nice steak and Twice-baked loaded potato, with a good whiskey on the rocks is MY choice, and has been for all these post DX years. “Modest” improvement? QOL indeed!
greater consumption of healthful plant-based foods is associated with modestly higher scores in quality-of-life domains among patients with prostate cancer.
That's all the study concludes. I don't find anything stupendous to get out of that.
When I have a bit more veggies than usual with my meat etc. I have a better chance of a good BM the next day. That's a boost in quality of life compared to constipation.
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If someone turning to the vegan diet feels great at first, it's because they have stopped eating junk food. Long-term vegans think they feel great but have no idea what 'feeling great' truly is. Does a vegan salivate thinking about broccoli? 
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