Low-Fat Vegan Diet and Other Positive Lifestyle Changes May Halt Progression of Prostate Cancer

WASHINGTON—Nutrition experts at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) are available to comment on a just-released study showing that adopting a low-fat vegan diet, and making other positive lifestyle changes, can slow and possibly halt the progression of prostate cancer. The study, led by Dean Ornish, M.D., appears in the September issue of the Journal of Urology.

“Slowing the progression of prostate cancer is now established as one of the many benefits of adopting a vegan diet and making other positive lifestyle changes,” says nutrition researcher Neal D. Barnard, M.D. Other recently published studies have shown that a diet based on fruit, vegetables and whole grains can cause weight loss, improve heart health and reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

Prior research, including a 2004 study led by Dr. Barnard, has proved the high acceptability of the low-fat vegan diet. “We found that the study participants were not slaves to junk food and easily made the transition to a plant-based diet,” says Dr. Barnard. At least four studies published in scientific journals show that patients give the low-fat vegetarian diet high ratings in terms of acceptability, and that the transition only takes about three weeks.

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research,and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.