Vitamin D, omega-3 supplementation beneficial to prostate cancer patients on surveillance

Intensive nutritional intervention with vitamin D and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) appears to have favourable effects in prostate cancer patients managed with active surveillance, as shown in a study.

The analysis included 68 men with very-low or low-risk prostate cancer. They adhered to a specific dietary regimen that excluded animal-based products and foods containing omega-6 PUFAs. On top of this, the patients received a supplement regimen that comprised omega-3 PUFAs 720 mg (three times daily), curcumin 2,000 mg (once daily), vitamin D3 with dose adjusted to achieve serum level of 60 ng/ml, and vitamin B-complex 1,000 mg (four times weekly).

All patients underwent assessments, including periodic monitoring of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), serum vitamin D, and PUFA levels. They also attended frequent follow-up with a nutritionist, during which they completed a food frequency questionnaire. Interval prostate biopsy was performed as clinically indicated and/or at 9 months.

The mean PSA slope was 0.11 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 0–0.25) ng/mL/month, while the mean vitamin D serum levels were 4.65 (95 percent CI, 3.09–5.98) ng/mL/month.

Nutritional supplementation was associated with a downward PSA trend, especially among patients with higher initial vitamin D levels (odds ratio [OR], 2.04, 95 percent CI, 1.04–4.01; p=0.04).

Moreover, all 55 patients who underwent follow-up biopsy showed no signs of disease progression.

In terms of safety, three patients had loose bowel movements that required omega-3 and or curcumin dose adjustments.

More studies are warranted to establish the benefits of vitamin D and omega-3 PUFA supplementation in men on active surveillance for prostate cancer.