Dietary intervention in the management of prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This review integrates recent reports related to the dietary management of prostate cancer with the existing body of science in an effort to best inform practicing clinicians.


RESULTS
Dietary factors are hypothesized to play a significant role in prostate cancer, and have proven to be important in managing prevalent comorbidities in this patient population (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis). Data regarding diet and prostate cancer are accumulating and randomized controlled trials are underway which will ultimately yield evidence on which to base recommendations regarding dietary regimens, functional foods, and supplement use. Until that time, most data derive from epidemiologic studies that have limitations in showing cause and effect. During the past year, the greatest and most consistent strides have been made in the area of energy balance, with data consistently showing that overweight and obesity are associated with progressive disease and increased overall mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
To date, the strongest evidence regarding diet and prostate cancer relates to energy balance. Urologists aspiring to best clinical practice should encourage their patients to achieve a healthful body weight through regular exercise and a healthful plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Advocating functional foods or supplements explicitly for cancer control purposes would currently be premature.
Demark-Wahnefried
Wendy
W
School of Nursing and Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. demar001@mc.duke.edu
Moyad
Mark A
MA
Moyad
Mark M
MM
D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D005502:Food; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy*; D017741:Survivors