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Review
. 2015 Jul 17;10(7):e0131747.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131747. eCollection 2015.

Fat Intake Is Not Linked to Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

Chang Xu  1 , Fang-Fang Han  2 , Xian-Tao Zeng  1 , Tong-Zu Liu  1 , Shen Li  1 , Zheng-Yan Gao  3
Affiliations
Review

Fat Intake Is Not Linked to Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

Chang Xu et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Since the late 1960s, the average global supply of fat has increased by 20 g per capita per day. While fat intake has been considered a potential risk factor for prostate cancer (Pca), the hypothesis from previous epidemiologic studies remained equivocal.

Materials and methods: Relevant cohort studies were identified through a literature search in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Wiley Online Library up to March 1, 2015. A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis were used to assess the relationship between fat intake and the risk for Pca.

Results: We identified 14 cohort studies, which included 37,349 cases and a total of 751,030 participants. We found no evidence of a non-linear association between fat intake and the risk for Pca. Overall, the summarized relative risks for every 28.35 g increment a day was 0.99 (95%CI: 0.98, 1.01; P=0.94; n=13) for total fat intake, 1.00 (95%CI: 1.00, 1.00; P=0.72; n=9) for saturated fat, 0.99 (95%CI: 0.95, 1.03; P=0.55; n=7) for polyunsaturated fat, and 1.00 (95%CI: 0.95, 1.04; P=0.85; n=8) for monounsaturated fat. Additionally, there was no link to the risk for advanced stage Pca regarding total fat intake (RR=1.02, 95%CI: 0.96, 1.08; P=0.63; n=5), saturated fat (RR=0.96, 95%CI: 0.84, 1.11; P=0.61; n=6), polyunsaturated fat (RR=0.96, 95%CI: 0.79, 1.17; P=0.68; n=6), or monounsaturated fat (RR=0.96, 95%CI: 0.86, 1.07; P=0.42; n=6). Subgroup and sensitively analyses showed consistent results.

Conclusion: Little evidence from published cohort studies supports the statement that total fat, saturated fat or unsaturated fat intake increases the risk for Pca or advanced stage Pca.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow diagram of the literature search.
Fig 2
Fig 2. The relationship between total fat intake and risk of Pca.
(A) The non-linearity dose-response meta-analysis on total fat intake and risk of Pca. The P value for non-linear test was 0.49. The points assigned to 26.6 g (reference dose), 50 g, 75.95 g, 100.27 g, and 127.6 g, respectively. (B) The linearity dose-response meta-analysis of total fat intake and risk of Pca (every 28.35 g increment a day).
Fig 3
Fig 3. The relationship between saturated fat intake and risk of Pca.
(A) The non-linear dose-response meta-analysis on saturated fat intake and risk of Pca. The P value for non-linear test was 0.25. The points assigned to 15.25 g (reference dose), 25.2 g, 34.5 g, 44.16 g, and 54.95 g, respectively. (B) The linearity dose-response meta-analysis of saturated fat intake and risk of Pca (every 28.35 g increment a day).
Fig 4
Fig 4. The relationship between unsaturated fat intake and risk of Pca.
(A) The linearity dose-response meta-analysis of total unsaturated fat intake and risk of Pca. (B) The linearity dose-response meta-analysis of polyunsaturated fat intake and risk of Pca. (C) The linearity dose-response meta-analysis of monounsaturated fat intake and risk of Pca.
Fig 5
Fig 5. The association between total fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat intake and advanced or high grade Pca (every 28.35 g increment a day).
A prostate cancer with a clinical T3a or T3b-T4 N0 or any T or N1, a Gleason score of 8 or higher, or prostate-specific antigen > 20 ng/mL was regarded as high risk of Pca. Some previous studies used a Gleason score of 7 also included here.
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