Men Diagnosed at Low Risk prostate cancer New research suggests that people who choose “watchful waiting” rather than immediate treatment may benefit from adding fish oil supplements to their diet. The study highlights how simple lifestyle changes, particularly diet, can help slow the growth of cancer and delay the need for aggressive treatment.

Dr. William Aronson, lead author of the study and professor of urology at the University of California, Los Angeles, explained the significance of the finding. “Many men are interested in lifestyle changes, including diet, to help manage their cancer and prevent its progression,” he said. “Our findings suggest that something as simple as adjusting your diet can potentially slow cancer growth and extend the time before more aggressive interventions are needed.”

Prostate cancer treatment guidelines have changed in recent years, and many men with slow-growing tumors now opt for “watchful waiting” or active surveillance. This approach involves monitoring the cancer closely rather than immediately adopting treatments such as surgery or radiation, which can come with significant side effects.

However, about half of men who choose watchful waiting will need surgery, medication, or other treatment within five years of diagnosis. This inspired Aronson and his research team to explore ways to slow tumor progression and maximize the benefits of active surveillance.

The researchers focused their attention on omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in some fish and fish oil supplements. Omega-3s are well known for their anti-inflammatory properties, and the team wanted to investigate whether increasing omega-3 intake while reducing less healthy fats could impact cancer growth.

To test this, the study included 100 men with low-risk or “favorable intermediate risk” prostate cancer. They all chose watchful waiting. The men were randomly divided into two groups:

– Control group: Continue your regular diet.

– Dietary group: Received counseling to increase intake of omega-3 fats, including taking fish oil supplements. They were also advised to reduce their intake of omega-6 fats, which are commonly found in processed foods such as chips, cookies, fried foods and mayonnaise.

To measure the impact of these dietary changes, the researchers used a biomarker called the Ki-67 index. This index shows how fast prostate cancer cells are growing over time.

After a year, the results were amazing:

– Men in the omega-3-focused diet group experienced a 15 percent drop in their Ki-67 index, which indicates slowed cancer cell growth.

– In contrast, men in the control group who continued their normal diet saw a 24 percent increase in their Ki-67 index, indicating faster cancer progression.

“This important difference suggests that dietary changes may help slow cancer growth, potentially delaying or even preventing the need for more aggressive treatment,” Aronson said.

While the decline in Ki-67 indices among men in the diet group is promising, there was no significant change in their Gleason grade – a common measure of prostate cancer severity and progression.

This means that the study did not confirm long-term changes in prostate cancer outcomes, such as completely stopping its progression. Dr. Aronson and his team believe that more research is needed to determine whether an omega-3-rich diet can produce lasting benefits for men with prostate cancer.

Get the latest news live on Times Now with breaking news and top headlines from around the world.