Lifestyle intervention study for prostate cancer patients starting soon

A feasibility study is soon initiated within HELGA. The study will explore the possibilities of conducting a larger-scale trial that focuses on whether an intervention including a health-promoting diet with a high intake of whole grain rye products together with a high level of vigorous physical activity may not only increase life quality and have beneficial effect on the metabolic profile, but also delay or prevent tumor progression. The feasibility study will investigate whether it is possible to enroll participants for such lifestyle intervention and also evaluate the effect of the lifestyle intervention according to cancer progression, quality of life, bodily awareness, and individual empowerment, and the metabolic profile among Nordic men with prostate cancer on active surveillance.

In the intervention, intake of whole grain rye products receives special attention, as the participants will be prescribed to eat 250 grams of whole grain rye products per day, corresponding to 5–7 slices of whole grain rye bread. Furthermore, they will be guided to increase their physical activity level, independent of their habitual level, by vigorous exercise at least 135 minutes per week and to walk at least 10,000 steps every day. The participants will receive counseling and have different measurements of oxygen consumption, body composition, metabolism and life quality taken on a regular basis.

The feasibility study will run in Denmark from July 2010 until July 2011; however, if results from the feasibility study are positive, then Iceland and Sweden will be included in a large-scale intervention study.

Contact: Rikke Dalgaard Hansen, Danish Cancer Society