Men who eat a vegan diet have lower levels of IGF-I, a protein associated with prostate cancer, UK scientists announced last Thursday. Researchers from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in Oxford said that while further investigation was needed, their findings suggested that a diet without meat or dairy products could reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Meat-eaters were defined as men who ate meat on most days of the week. The Oxford study of 696 British men was published in this week's British Journal of Cancer. The study investigators also pointed out that previous research has indicated that prostate cancer rates are generally lower in countries with low consumption of meat and dairy products.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in British men.
Each year, the disease kills about 9,500 men, and about 21,000 new cases are diagnosed. The information provided through OncoLink should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.