Question: Can a man reduce his prostate cancer risk with lifestyle changes? Are there proven supplements that might also help?
Answer: When considering these questions, it’s important to consider which interventions not only reduce cancer risk, but more importantly what might lower the chance of developing an aggressive cancer.
If men live long enough, most will develop cancer cells in their prostate gland. About 80% of men ages 80 and older live with some prostate cancer.
However, only a small percentage will develop an aggressive form of cancer that affects their quality of life and longevity. Therefore, the more important questions are what lifestyle changes or supplements might delay the onset of prostate cancer and decrease the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer? Here are three areas that observational studies have found may help.
Actionable ways to lower prostate cancer risk
Diet
Research has shown that the same types of diets associated with better heart and brain health are linked to a reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer. In a study published in the March 2022 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers who followed 47,239 men over 28 years found that men who reported eating primarily a plant-based diet, like the Mediterranean or DASH diets, had a significantly lower risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. Other studies have shown following these healthier diets also may lower the odds of dying from prostate cancer.
What you don’t eat also matters. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding obesity is linked to a lower chance of developing advanced prostate cancer. Also, limiting meat and added sugars may be good for prostate health.
Exercise
Some evidence suggests that regular exercise can lower a man’s likelihood of getting prostate cancer. A Harvard study found that men who engaged regularly in vigorous activity had a 30% lower risk of developing advanced prostate cancer and a 25% lower risk of dying from prostate cancer compared with men who rarely exercised.
Ejaculation frequency
Men who ejaculate frequently appear to have a lower risk of prostate cancer. According to one long-running study, men who ejaculated more than 21 times per month had a 20% lower prostate cancer risk than those who ejaculated four to seven times monthly. This was an observational study and does not prove more frequent ejaculation was the reason for the lower risk.
Supplements?
Regarding supplements, there is no evidence that any supplement reduces the risk. You still might see promotions for the preventative properties of vitamin E and selenium. But a very large clinical trial and other studies found that neither reduced risk. In fact, the results suggested vitamin E supplements might even raise the risk.
Howard LeWine, M.D. is an internist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. For additional consumer health information, please visit www.health.harvard.edu.
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