Healthy Diet Not a Guarantee Against Prostate Cancer; Unhealthy Eating Elevates Aggressive Tumor Risk, Research Shows

A recent study highlighted that consistent consumption of junk food and sugary beverages escalates vulnerability to severe tumors. Researchers from Spain reported that consuming unhealthy diets substantially heightens the risk for aggressive prostate cancer. But alarmingly, the study also revealed that a healthy diet does not ensure immunity from this type of cancer.

Lead author Dr. Adela Castello-Pastor from the Carlos III Institute of Health in Madrid suggests that evading unhealthy dietary habits might be the optimal approach to thwart aggressive prostate cancer.

Testing Which Type of Diet Increases Prostate Cancer Risk

A recent study, titled "High Adherence To Western Dietary Pattern and Prostate Cancer Risk: Findings From the EPIC-Spain Cohort" published in the journal BJU International, identified over 600 prostate cancer cases from the 15,296 Spanish individuals researchers followed for around 17 years.

During the study, reserchers classified the different kinds of diets into "Western," "Prudent," or "Mediterranean." The Western diet involved high-fat dairy, processed meats, refined grains, sugary items, caloric beverages, convenience foods, and sauces, with limited low-fat dairy and whole grains. Dr. Castello-Pastor elucidates that milk and other dairy items inhibit the synthesis of substances that combat prostate cancer.

Moreover, a "Prudent" diet is characterized by low-fat dairy, veggies, fruits, whole grains, and juices; while "Mediterranean" involves eating fish, vegetables, legumes, fruits, and vegetable oil; and the "Western" diet with high-fat dairy, processed meats, and sweets. The Western diet was linked to the highest likelihood of developing tumors that spread to other organs.

Dr. Castello-Pastor explained in the news release that fats including total, saturated, and trans fats derived from red and processed meats, as well as sources like sweets, sauces, and convenience foods, are believed to potentially amplify the advancement of advanced prostate cancer (PCa).

This amplification could occur by disturbing hormonal regulation, heightening oxidative stress that hinders DNA damage repair, and fostering inflammation that escalates cellular proliferation.

While following healthful diets like Prudent and Mediterranean did not ensure complete prostate cancer prevention, they did lower the risk of the most severe forms. The study is the first to analyze these deadliest tumor types.

Prostate Cancer: Risks, Symptoms, Treatment

Prostate cancer originates in the prostate, a small gland below the bladder in men. It secretes fluid for sperm health, and early diagnosis typically allows successful treatment before spreading.

This cancer ranks as the second most prevalent cancer among men with 13 out of every 100 people with prostates projected to develop it. While most people lead normal lives without treatment, about 34,000 individuals in the U.S. die from it annually.

In its early stages, prostate cancer often does not exhibit symptoms. As the disease advances, various issues might arise, including a frequent and possibly urgent need to urinate, particularly during the night, as well as a weak or intermittent urine flow. Pain or a burning sensation while urinating (dysuria), urinary incontinence, and even fecal incontinence could occur.

Painful ejaculation and erectile dysfunction (ED) might manifest, along with the presence of blood in semen (hematospermia) or urine. Additionally, discomfort in the lower back, hip, or chest could become noticeable.

Common risk factors for prostate cancer are age (especially over 50), race (particularly Black individuals), family history of prostate cancer, genetics (such as BRCA mutations), while other potential factors include smoking, prostatitis, high BMI, STIs, and exposure to Agent Orange.

Treatment depends on multiple factors factors but it usually includes surveillance, surgery, radiation therapy, focal therapy, and systemic therapies, like hormonal tehrapy, and chemotherapy.

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