A diet abundant in vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits but limited in dairy and meat appears to lead to better sexual health, urinary function and quality of life among men who undergo treatment for nonmetastatic prostate cancer, according to study findings published in the journal Cancer.

Stacy Loeb MD, PhD, of New York University and Manhattan Veterans Affairs, and colleagues assessed the impact of a plant-based diet on quality of life of among men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

This prospective study included 3,505 participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who were diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer. This study, which began in 1986, includes information on more than 50,000 male dentists, pharmacists, optometrists, osteopaths, podiatrists and veterinarians.

Participants were diagnosed at a median age of 68 years. Nearly half (48%) underwent radical prostatectomy (complete prostate removal), and 35% received radiation as their primary therapy.

The men completed their first quality-of-life questionnaire seven years after diagnosis, on average. They completed diet questionnaires every four years and responded to questions about their urinary and bowel function, erections and vitality every two years. The researchers sorted participants into groups based on their plant-based and animal-based food consumption.

Participants who consumed more plant-based foods had better scores for sexual, urinary and bowel function, as well as for mood and energy. Men who ate the most plant-based food scored up to 11% higher on various aspects of sexual function than those who ate very little. The former group also scored 14% higher on measures of urinary function, with fewer reports of incontinence and irritation. What’s more, they scored 13% higher on hormonal measures, with fewer experiencing depression and low energy.

“This prospective study provides supportive evidence that greater consumption of healthful plant-based foods is associated with modestly higher scores in quality-of-life domains among patients with prostate cancer,” the researchers concluded.

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