A study, published in BJU International, from the Spanish cohort of the EPIC study has found that adherence to a Western dietary pattern is linked to an increased risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. The also found no significant effect on prostate cancer risk for men who followed a Prudent or Mediterranean diet.
This study analyzed the dietary habits of 15,296 men from 1992-1996, categorizing diets as Western, Prudent, or Mediterranean. The Western diet is characterized by high intakes of high-fat dairy, processed meats, refined grains, sweets, caloric drinks, and convenience foods, and low intakes of whole grains. The Prudent diet consisted of low-fat dairy, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and juices. The Mediterranean diet featured high intakes of fish, vegetables, legumes, boiled potatoes, fruits, olives, and vegetable oil, and low intakes of juices.
During a median follow-up of 17 years, 609 cases of prostate cancer were observed. The study also accounted for physical activity, alcohol intake, and smoking.
While no significant effect on overall prostate cancer risk was found for the Prudent or Mediterranean diets, a negative effect was observed for men with moderate to high adherence to the Western diet, particularly for aggressive disease (Gleason grade group > 6 and ISUP grade 3 to 5).
In addition, men with higher adherence to the Western diet had higher alcohol intake, energy intake, were more likely to be current smokers, younger, and had lower education levels. In contrast, high adherence to the Prudent diet was associated with lower alcohol intake, lower BMI, younger age, lower physical activity, non-smoking, higher energy intake, and higher education levels. High adherence to the Mediterranean diet was linked to higher alcohol and energy intake, slightly lower BMI, younger age, a more active lifestyle, higher education levels, and less smoking.
“Our study suggests that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, characterized by high intake of whole fruits (not juice), vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, vegetable oils or fish, is not enough to prevent prostate cancer. Additionally, it suggests the intake of foods representative of the Western diet, such as high-fat dairy products, red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets, caloric drinks, convenience food and sauces, should be reduced to prevent this disease,” the authors wrote.
A Castello et al. High adherence to Western dietary pattern and prostate cancer risk: findings from the EPIC-Spain cohort. BJU International (2023). https://doi.org/10.1111/bju.16001
