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2025-11-11

The real role of diet after prostate cancer: what does the evidence show?

Oncology

Localized (non-metastatic) prostate cancer affects a large male population and generally carries a good prognosis. However, patients remain at elevated risk of all-cause mortality, often due to comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease. Diet is known to influence the course of many chronic illnesses, but its impact after a prostate cancer diagnosis is still poorly defined. This systematic review evaluated the relationship between different dietary patterns (rather than isolated nutrients) and mortality or disease progression in men with localized prostate cancer.   Results: mediterranean diet leads, western diet fails Based on eight cohort studies including more than 47,000 participants, this review identified several types of eating patterns, grouped into two main categories:
  1. Western or pro-inflammatory diets
    Characterized by high consumption of red and processed meats, saturated fats, added sugars, and high-fat dairy products, these diets were associated with:
    • a significant increase in all-cause mortality,
    • higher prostate cancer–specific mortality,
    • and an increased risk of disease progression.
  2. Healthy or anti-inflammatory diets
    This group includes the Mediterranean, DASH, and plant-based diets, which emphasize:
    • fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish, and unsaturated fats (e.g., olive oil, nuts).
      These patterns were linked to:
    • a reduction in overall mortality,
    • improved progression-free survival,
    • and better cardiovascular protection after diagnosis.
Some studies also suggest that replacing animal fats with plant-based fats may improve survival, likely by reducing systemic inflammation.   A nutritional priority: rethinking the plate after prostate cancer This review highlights the importance of adopting a comprehensive dietary approach after a diagnosis of non-metastatic prostate cancer. Unlike research focusing on individual nutrients, assessing overall dietary patterns provides a more realistic understanding of real-world nutritional behavior. Transitioning to a Mediterranean-style diet could represent a simple, cost-effective, and impactful strategy to improve both quality of life and longevity in these patients. The authors emphasize the need to strengthen nutritional guidelines in oncology and to more fully integrate dietitians into post-diagnosis patient care. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings and guide future personalized nutrition interventions in cancer care.  

Source(s) :
Lastrucci S, Lorini C, Guzzardi G, Lenzi J, Bonaccorsi G, Collini C. The Impact of Different Dietary Patterns on Mortality and Prognosis After Non-Metastatic Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: A Systematic Review. Healthcare. 2023;13(15):2201. ;

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