Positive Health Online

Abstract

LAGIOU and colleagues, Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, National School of Public Health, Athens, Greece, investigated possible age-dependent effects of diet on the risks of development and progression of prostate cancer .

Background

The authors believed it more likely to be able to identify nutritional factors affecting the risk of developing prostate cancer in younger patients, whereas such factors that might affect progression of the disease would be more apparent in older patients .

Methodology

Components of the [reported habitual] diets of 320 patients with prostate cancer and 246 controls (with no systemic disease), hospitalized in 6 major hospitals in Athens, Greece, were analysed. Separate logistic regression models were fitted for men under 70 years of age and men of 70 years or older.

Results

Polyunsaturated fats substantially increased the risk of developing prostate cancer in younger subjects, but had a minimal role in the progression of the disease in older subjects. Cooked tomatoes were strongly protective in older subjects, but not in younger ones. Vitamin E strongly protected against prostate cancer for younger subjects, but not against progression for older subjects.

Conclusion

The results show at the very least that older men with prostate cancer have a different dietary risk profile compared with younger men ; such findings have potentially useful implications.

References

Lagiou A et al. Are there age-dependent effect of diet on prostate cancer risk? Sozial- und Praeventivmedizin 46 (5): 329-34. 2001.

Comment

The above research studies analyzing nutritional components upon cancer growth, morphology and progression is confirmation of the diversity of ongoing research internationally.