Replacing part of the animal and saturated fat in a man's diet with plant-based and unsaturated fats is linked to a higher survival rate after a diagnosis of prostate cancer, according to researchers whose work was published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
The researchers analyzed data from 4,884 men with non-metastatic prostate cancer who were followed for an average of 12.8 years. During that time, 3,040 of the participants died, including 803 from cardiovascular disease, 499 from other cancers and 441 directly from prostate cancer.
How fat intake affected survival
Men who consumed the most saturated fat had an all-cause mortality rate 24 percent higher than participants with the lowest intake, the study found.
Replacing about 10 percent of daily caloric intake from animal fat with plant fat was associated with a 16 percent reduction in mortality. Replacing around 5 percent of calories from saturated fat with monounsaturated fat corresponded to a 20 percent reduction in the death rate. The researchers said the main difference in survival was tied to deaths from cardiovascular disease rather than from prostate cancer itself.
Why the source of fat matters
The study's authors said that after a prostate cancer diagnosis, it is not only the amount of fat in a man's diet that matters but also where that fat comes from.
As possible substitutes for foods high in animal and saturated fats, the scientists pointed to olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado and other plant-based foods.
Background on prostate cancer research
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men worldwide and is often diagnosed at a non-metastatic stage, when it has not spread beyond the prostate gland. JAMA Network Open, where the study appeared, is a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the American Medical Association.
The researchers noted that this latest finding follows earlier research showing that eating ultra-processed foods is linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.
