Dietary Fat

Caution

2 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Caution2 studies

High dietary fat intake may elevate prostate cancer risk and progression

Two studies—a consensus statement and a systematic review covering literature from 1990 to 2013—link dietary fat to increased prostate cancer risk. The consensus working group identified prostate cancer among seven cancer types potentially related to fat consumption, noting that populations deriving 43% of energy from fat face elevated concern, though the causal mechanism and role of specific fatty acid types remain unclear. The systematic review, synthesizing epidemiological and interventional data across multiple study designs, concluded that dietary fat intake should be minimized to reduce prostate cancer risk. Both sources acknowledge significant confounding factors and population heterogeneity, and call for more randomized controlled trials to clarify the fat–prostate cancer relationship. Reducing overall fat intake represents a reasonable dietary precaution.

Evidence

Prostate cancer and the influence of dietary factors and supplements: a systematic review

Authors: Mandair, D, Rossi, R, Pericleous, M, Whyand, T, Caplin, M

Published: January 1, 2007

A systematic review spanning PubMed literature from 1990 to 2013, covering epidemiological and interventional studies on diet and prostate cancer, identified dietary fat as a factor that appears to increase prostate cancer risk. The review synthesized evidence across multiple study types examining the relationship between nutrition and prostate cancer biology and tumourigenesis. The conclusion that dietary fat should be minimized was drawn from the wealth of available evidence, though the authors noted that more randomized controlled trials are needed due to confounding factors and population heterogeneity.

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Report from the working group on diet and cancer.

Authors: Adami, Hans-Olov, Dragsted, Lars, Enig, Bent, Hansen, Jens, Haraldsdóttir, Jóhanna, Hill, Michael J., Holm, Lars Erik, Knudsen, Ib, Larsen, Jens-Jorgen, Lutz, Werner K., Osler, Merete, Overvad, Kim, Sabroe, Svend, Sanner, Tore, Sorensen, Thorkild I. A., Strube, Michael, Thorling, Eivind B.

Published: January 1, 1993

The consensus working group identified prostate cancer as 1 of 7 cancer types potentially related to fat consumption, alongside breast, colon, rectum, endometrium, ovary, and gall bladder cancers. The Danish population obtains 43% of energy from fat, derived mainly from margarine and butter, with a steadily increasing trend over 30 years. Whether the fat-cancer relationship is causal, and whether it depends on total fat or specific fatty acid types (saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated), is far from clear and may vary between different fat-related cancer types. The general ECP trend between 1985 and 1991 was to weaken earlier statements regarding fat and cancer.

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