There are no specific preventive measures for prostate cancer. Some people have a higher than average risk. These are individuals with:[1]
- Two close relatives (e.g. father + grandfather + uncle) with prostate cancer;
- A close relative with prostate cancer before age 45;
- African or Caribbean origin.
Diet’s role in prostate cancer
There are a few leads with regards to nutrition. Several epidemiological studies carried out in the 1990’s[2 ;3 ;4] have highlighted the bad influence of a diet containing too much fat. Animal fats are said to be the most harmful.
Men who do not eat fish are two to three times more likely to develop prostate cancer.[5]
Finally, the consumption of linseed has been said to slow the progression of prostate cancer. Linseed is believed to be able to lower the level of testosterone in the blood, a hormone suspected of accelerating the progression of prostate cancer.[6]
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[1] American Cancer Society. (2020). Prostate Cancer Risk Factors. Retrieved from www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
[2] E Giovannucci, et al. (1993). A Prospective Study of Dietary Fat and Risk of Prostate Cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 85(19), 1571-1579. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/85.19.1571
[3] D Rose, J Connolly. (1992). Dietary fat, fatty acids and prostate cancer. Lipids, 27(10), 798-803. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02535853
[4] K Pienta, P Esper. (1993). Is Dietary Fat a Risk Factor for Prostate Cancer? Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 85(19), 1548-1540. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/85.19.1538
[5] K Inoue, et al. (2001). Fatty fish supplementation and risk of prostate cancer. The Lancet, 358(9290), 1367. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(01)06426-1
[6] W Demark-Wahnefried, et al. (2001). Pilot study of dietary fat restriction and flaxseed supplementation in men with prostate cancer before surgery. Urology, 58(1), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0090-4295(01)01014-7