Men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer who choose "watchful waiting" instead of immediate treatment might benefit from adding fish oil supplements to their diets, new research suggests. The study highlights how simple lifestyle changes, particularly in diet, may help slow cancer growth and delay the need for aggressive treatments.

Dr William Aronson, the study's lead author and a professor of urology at the University of California, Los Angeles, explained the significance of this 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 could 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 tumours now opt for "watchful waiting" or active surveillance. This approach involves close monitoring of the cancer rather than immediately pursuing treatments like surgery or radiation, which can come with significant side effects.

However, about half of the men who choose watchful waiting will require surgery, medication, or other treatments within five years of their diagnosis. This led Aronson and his research team to explore ways to slow tumour progression and extend the benefits of active surveillance.

The researchers turned their focus to omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in certain 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 involved 100 men diagnosed with low-risk or "favourable intermediate-risk" prostate cancer. All of them had chosen watchful waiting. The men were randomly divided into two groups:

- Control Group: Continued with their regular diets.

- Diet Group: Received counselling to increase their intake of omega-3 fats, including taking fish oil supplements. They were also advised to reduce their intake of omega-6 fats, commonly found in processed foods like chips, cookies, fried items, and mayonnaise.

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

After one year, the results were striking:

- Men in the omega-3-focused diet group experienced a 15 per cent decline in their Ki-67 index, indicating slower cancer cell growth.

- In contrast, men in the control group who continued their usual diets saw a 24 per cent increase in their Ki-67 index, suggesting faster cancer progression.

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

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 measurement of prostate cancer severity and progression.

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

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