Total fruit and prostate cancer.

Total prostate cancer risk: Data about total fruits in relation to total prostate cancer risk was provided by 16 cohorts, including a total of 27,557 cases. A significantly increased risk was found in one cohort, including 637 cases (Schuurman AG [10]). No other (non)significant associations were found. The average RR = 1.03 (excluding incomplete data from Kurahashi N [19], Tseng M [13], Wu K [7]).

Inclusion of intermediate levels of consumption:
Significantly increased risks were found at the levels of consumption of 151 g/day (Chan JM [11]), and 51-96 g/day (Gonzalez A [21]). Though the trend was significant, no (non)significant effects were found in one cohort (Schuurman AG [10]). No (non)significant protective effect was found at any level of consumption in any cohort.

RRs for the association between total fruit and total prostate cancer risk (g/day):



Advanced stage prostate cancer risk: Data about advanced prostate cancer risk was provided by 5 cohorts, including a total of 4,226 cases.
A significant protective effect was found in one cohort (Giovannucci E [7]). No other associations were found. The average RR = 0.95
Prostate cancer mortality: Data about total fruits in relation to prostate cancer death was provided by 4 cohorts of small size, including a total of 456 cases. No associations were found. The average RR = 0.98 (excluding incomplete data from Snowdon DA [1]).

Conclusion: Few associations were found with any end point. No evidence was found for an association between total fruits and total prostate cancer risk, advanced prostate cancer risk, or prostate cancer mortality. In addition, no evidence was found for an association when advanced cancer and mortality are considered as one single end point (RR = 0.95), or when advanced prostate cancer is stratified in disease stage and grade.

Prospective studies of total fruits and total prostate cancer risk:
AuthorCohort nameCasesRelative Risk (RR)
24) George SM (2008)The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study17,034RR = 1.01 (0.95-1.06; P = 0.766).
23) Ambrosini GL (2008)No cohort name97RR = 0.94 (0.46-1.89; P = 0.848).
21) Gonzalez A (2007)The VITAL Cohort763HR = 1.19 (0.96-1.47).
19) Kurahashi N (2008)The JPHC Study201No association (P = 0.97).
18) Kirsh VA (2007)The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial1,338RR = 0.94 (0.77-1.15; P = 0.84).
17) Stram DO (2006)The Multiethnic Cohort Study3,922RR = 1.05 (0.94-1.16; P = 0.603).
15) Key TJ (2004)The EPIC Study1,104RR = 1.06 (0.84-1.34; P = 0.741).
14) Allen NE (2004)The Hiroshima/Nagasaki Life Span Study196RR = 1.20 (0.83-1.74; P = 0.40).
13) Tseng M (2004)The NHEFS Cohort136No association.
11) Chan JM (2000)The ATBC Study184RR = 1.3 (0.8-2.2; P = 0.13).
10) Schuurman AG (1998)The Netherlands Cohort Study637RR = 1.31 (0.96-1.79; P = 0.02).
7) Wu K (2004)The Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1993-1998)436No association.
7) Giovannucci E (1995)The Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-1992)773RR = 0.84 (0.59-1.84; P = 0.21).
6) Le Marchand L (1994)No cohort name198RR = 1.0 (0.7-1.6; P = 0.99).
3) Severson RK (1989)The Japan-Hawaii Study174RR = 1.57 (0.95-2.61).
2) Shibata A (1992)The Leisure World Study208RR = 1.04 (0.74-1.46).
1) Mills PK (1989)The Adventist Health Study156RR = 1.07 (0.72-1.58; P = 0.37).
Total number of cases: 27,557Average RR = 1.03


Prospective studies of total fruits and advanced prostate cancer risk:
AuthorCohort nameCasesEnd pointRelative Risk (RR)
24) George SM (2008)The NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study1,778Advanced prostate cancer riskRR = 0.98 (0.83-1.15; P = 0.91).
18) Kirsh VA (2007)The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening TrialAggressive: 520.
Extraprostatic: Not defined.
Aggressive or extraprostatic cancerAggressive cancer: RR = 0.90 (0.65-1.25; P = 0.99).

Extraprostatic cancer: RR = 1.05 (0.61-1.83; P = 0.92).
17) Stram DO (2006)The Multiethnic Cohort Study1,345Non-localized or high grade diseaseRR = 1.01 (0.85-1.20; P = 0.769).
10) Schuurman AG (1998)The Netherlands Cohort Study160Poorly- or undifferentiated prostate cancerRR = 1.02 (0.99-1.06).
7) Giovannucci E (1998)The Health Professionals Follow-up Study423Advanced prostate cancer riskRR = 0.63 (0.43-0.93).
Total number of cases: 4,226Average RR = 0.95


Prospective studies of total fruits and prostate cancer mortality:
AuthorCohort nameCasesRelative Risk (RR)
22) Smit E (2007)The Puerto Rico Heart Health Program167OR = 1.13 (0.45-2.79; P = 0.30).
12) Appleby PN (2002)The Health Food Shoppers Study41RR = 0.66 (0.34-1.29).
5) Hsing AW (1990)The Lutheran Brotherhood Cohort Study149RR = 0.9 (0.6-1.4).
1) Snowdon DA (1984)The Adventist Health Study99No association.
Total number of cases: 456Average RR = 0.98