Auckland researchers have found that a Mediterranean-style diet may benefit men with prostate cancer.
The small-scale pilot study, led by University of Auckland cancer research fellow, Dr Karen Bishop (from the University’s Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre), monitored 20 men mainly from the Auckland region who had diagnosed prostate cancer and adhered to a Mediterranean-style diet (with specific adaptations) for three months.
“We showed that dietary change to a Mediterranean-style diet is both achievable and beneficial for men with prostate cancer in New Zealand, albeit in a small and motivated group,” she says. “While there have been many studies looking at the impact of this diet on clinical indicators of disease, this is the first time such a study has been carried out in men with prostate cancer in New Zealand.
“This result adds weight to the notion that a low-inflammatory, high antioxidant diet may benefit men with prostate cancer,” says Dr Bishop.
She worked with nutritionist Sharon Erdrich who says evaluation at the University’s cancer research centre for a prostate specific antigen, C-reactive protein, and DNA damage was carried out at baseline and after three months of following the diet. Dietary data was also collated from the men’s diet diaries and a Mediterranean diet questionnaire.
