MORE PROOF: A Healthy Life May Help Against Prostate Cancer

Men may be able to lower their risk of being diagnosed with highly aggressive prostate cancer by sticking closely to diet and exercise recommendations, new research hints.

In the study, researchers looked at the lifestyle and diet of more than 2000 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

In a cross-sectional analysis, they found “clear inverse associations” between greater adherence to World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) recommendations on diet and physical activity and the risk for aggressive prostate cancer at diagnosis.

The finding was statistically significant and similar among black and white men, despite black men having a higher risk for highly aggressive tumors. In particular, the researchers found that limiting consumption of red meat and avoiding an energy-rich diet were significantly protective against aggressive tumors.

The other WCRF recommendations include:

1. Maintain a body mass index (BMI) within normal range between 21 and 23 kg/m
2. Engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate or 30 minutes of vigorous physical activity daily
3. Avoid sugary drinks
4. Eat at least 5 servings of nonstarchy vegetables and fruits daily
5. Eat at least 25 grams of unprocessed grains/cereals and legumes daily
6. Limit alcohol intake to 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women
7. Limit sodium intake to less than 2.4 grams per day

The new study appears in the journal Nutrition and Cancer . http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807654

“Most men are at risk of prostate cancer, but it is the level of aggressiveness of disease that is most clinically relevant,” lead investigator Lenore Arab, PhD, from the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California, Los Angeles, said in a statement.

Men who already have prostate cancer and are worried about a worsening of disease may also be positively instructed by the results, she added. “These findings [also] suggest that even men with prostate cancer can take control of their disease and moderate its aggressiveness through diet and lifestyle choices.”