Prostate cancer risk rises with age, family history, and certain racial backgrounds. No single food or supplement guarantees prevention. Favor a whole-food, plant-forward diet, maintain healthy weight and activity levels, and avoid routine high-dose supplements (selenium, vitamin E). Screening with PSA and DRE requires shared decision-making; men at higher risk may discuss earlier testing with their clinicians. Evidence for specific nutrients (lycopene, soy, green tea, vitamin D, omega-3) is mixed and generally supports food-first approaches.

Why prostate cancer risk rises with age and other factors

Prostate cancer risk increases with age, especially after 50, and most diagnoses occur in older men. Family history and certain racial groups - most notably African American men - face higher incidence and mortality. Lifestyle factors such as diet, excess body weight, and inactivity also influence risk.

Understand the limits of prevention

No diet or supplement can guarantee prevention. Clinical trials have shown mixed or null results for single-nutrient supplements, and some supplements (for example, vitamin E in the SELECT trial) have not reduced risk and may harm. Focus on overall patterns: whole foods, physical activity, and managing other health risks.

Practical, evidence-minded steps that may lower risk

Eat a plant-forward, lower-processed diet

Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Tomatoes (a source of lycopene), soy foods, and green tea have shown associations with lower prostate cancer risk in some studies, but evidence is not definitive. Favor whole-food sources over supplements.

Keep a healthy weight and stay active

Obesity links to a higher risk of advanced prostate cancer and worse outcomes. Aim for regular aerobic activity and strength training as part of a sustained healthy lifestyle.

Be cautious with supplements

Large randomized trials did not support selenium or vitamin E for prostate cancer prevention and found potential risks. High-dose omega-3 supplements and isolated nutrient pills have produced inconsistent results and are not a proven preventive strategy. Prefer dietary sources and discuss any supplements with your clinician.

Vitamin D and other nutrients

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with worse outcomes in some observational studies, but supplementation has not been proven to prevent prostate cancer. Discuss testing and supplementation with your clinician if you are deficient. 1

Screening and medical follow-up

Early detection strategies focus on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal exam (DRE). PSA screening involves trade-offs: it can detect cancers early but also leads to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Shared decision-making with your clinician is recommended. Many U.S. organizations advise individualized discussion of PSA testing for men aged 55-69; men at higher risk (African American men and men with a first-degree relative diagnosed at a young age) may consider earlier discussion and screening. 2

Bottom line

Adopt a whole-foods diet, stay physically active, maintain a healthy weight, avoid unproven supplements, and discuss personalized screening with your clinician. These steps support general health and may reduce the chance of advanced prostate cancer, but none guarantee prevention.
  1. Confirm current U.S. guideline language and recommended ages for PSA screening (USPSTF, AUA, and other major organizations) as of 2025.
  2. Verify guidance about earlier screening age for high-risk groups (exact ages recommended by major guidelines).
  3. Check latest evidence (through 2024/2025) on omega-3 supplements and prostate cancer risk for any strong recommendations.
  4. Confirm statements about vitamin D supplementation and prostate cancer prevention with latest clinical trial data or meta-analyses.

FAQs about Prostate Cancer Prevention

Can diet prevent prostate cancer?
No diet can guarantee prevention. Patterns that emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fish correlate with lower risk in some studies. Whole-food sources are preferable to supplements.
Should I take supplements like selenium, vitamin E, or vitamin D to prevent prostate cancer?
Large trials have not shown benefit from selenium or vitamin E for prevention; vitamin E was linked to harm in one major trial. Vitamin D supplementation has mixed evidence. Talk with your clinician before taking supplements.
When should I get PSA testing?
PSA testing involves benefits and harms. Many U.S. guideline bodies recommend individualized shared decision-making for men aged 55-69, and earlier discussion for those at higher risk (for example, African American men or men with a strong family history). Discuss timing with your clinician.
Do green tea, tomatoes, or soy significantly reduce risk?
Observational studies suggest possible modest associations for lycopene (tomatoes), soy, and green tea, but evidence is not definitive. They can be part of a healthy diet but are not proven preventive treatments.
What lifestyle changes most reduce the risk of advanced prostate cancer?
Maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, avoiding tobacco, and following a balanced diet reduce the risk of many cancers and are associated with lower risk of advanced prostate cancer.

News about Prostate Cancer Prevention

Prostate cancer - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic [Visit Site | Read More]

How Can You Prevent Prostate Cancer? - Everyday Health [Visit Site | Read More]

This futuristic prostate cancer test could predict your true risk - The Telegraph [Visit Site | Read More]

Practical tricks and recommendations on BRCA1/2 testing in prostate cancer: from therapy to cancer prevention. - ScienceDirect.com [Visit Site | Read More]

Doctors Group Shares Nutrition’s Role in Prostate Cancer Prevention and Progression - Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [Visit Site | Read More]

Vasectomy and prostate cancer risk: What you should know - MD Anderson Cancer Center [Visit Site | Read More]

Eating Grains May Lower Risk of Advanced Prostate Cancer - American Cancer Society [Visit Site | Read More]