Positive Health Online

Abstract

KIM and colleagues, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Ontario Canada studied the associations between prediagnostic energy, fat, vitamin A intake and survival from prostate cancer.

Background

Methodology

207 men with prostate cancer from Toronto and 201 men from Vancouver provided diet histories at diagnosis between 1989-92 and were followed for survival from prostate cancer. 263 men (135 from Toronto, 128 from Vancouver) were included in the final analysis.

Results

After adjustments for clinical stage, histologic grade, and other factors, there were significantly lower risks of dying from prostate cancer in the highest compared with the lowest tertiles of monounsaturated fat intakes in both cities and in the combined city analyses (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.3). Survival from prostate cancer was significantly higher for men in the highest tertile of energy intake in Toronto (HR = 0.1), compared with Vancouver where these men were relatively worse (HR = 2.6). Other nutrients were either not consistently or not significantly associated with prostate cancer survival in the two cities.

Conclusion

There was a consistent and significant inverse association between premorbid intake of monounsaturated fat and risk of death from prostate cancer. The inconsistent results for energy intake between cities may potentially be attributed to non-respondent bias in Toronto.

References

Kim DJ et al. Premorbid diet in relation to survival from prostate cancer (Canada). Cancer Causes and Control 11(1): 65-77. Jan 2000.

Comment

Again, the fat connection. The less fat, the higher the survival rate.