Men with slow-growing prostate cancer could potentially avoid invasive surgery by boosting their diets with specific supplements, according to a significant new international trial. The research suggests that nutritional interventions may help manage the disease and reduce the anxiety associated with a 'watch and wait' approach.
The Trial: Slowing PSA Progression with Diet
The study, led by experts at Bedfordshire University, focused on men diagnosed with lower-risk, slow-growing prostate tumours. Participants were given a dietary supplement containing a blend of broccoli, turmeric, pomegranate, green tea, ginger, and cranberry. Half of the group also received an additional probiotic supplement containing the 'good' bacteria lactobacillus.
The results, published in early 2026, were striking. The progression of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) – a key protein marker in the blood used to monitor tumour growth – slowed significantly in both groups. Notably, the reduction was even more pronounced in the men who took the extra probiotic. This finding opens a promising new avenue for non-invasive management of the disease.
Easing the Burden of 'Active Surveillance'
Currently, around 60% of men with lower-risk prostate cancer initially choose 'active surveillance'. This NHS protocol involves regular PSA blood tests, MRI scans, and occasional biopsies to monitor the cancer rather than treating it immediately. However, the psychological toll is high.
Professor Robert Thomas, the study's first author and a consultant clinical oncologist, highlighted the problem: "Alarmingly over 50% opt out within five years." He explained that the uncertainty of fluctuating PSA levels leads many men to request radical treatments like prostate removal or radiotherapy, often for tumours that may never harm them.
"A successful dietary intervention, which helps men remain on active surveillance, could help avoid treatment-related toxicities in a large majority who might otherwise be over-treated," Professor Thomas stated. He added that the observed PSA changes were supported by MRI scan results, a rare and robust validation in nutritional research.
The PSA Test Dilemma and Screening Controversy
The research underscores a critical issue in prostate cancer care: the flawed nature of the PSA test. While it is the most accurate tool currently available, PSA levels can rise for many reasons, including simple infections. Evidence suggests 75% of people with a raised PSA do not have prostate cancer.
This inaccuracy is central to the UK's ongoing debate about screening. In 2025, the UK National Screening Committee rejected routine PSA screening for at-risk men, citing the high risk of 'overdiagnosis' and subsequent unnecessary treatments with lifelong side-effects, such as urinary incontinence.
This decision proved controversial. Campaigners, including Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy – who has a terminal diagnosis after late detection despite a family history – argue for targeted screening for high-risk groups like Black men over 50 and those with a family history. The committee, however, stressed the 'lifelong harms' from unnecessary procedures, noting that NHS data shows men struggle with active surveillance and often insist on treatment.
Professor Freddie Hamdy of Oxford University, a committee member, illustrated the point: "The slightest glitch in any of these [tests]... the man is so sensitive to the possibility of disease progression that he will ask for treatment. And we find out after surgery... that the vast majority of these operations were unnecessary."
The new dietary approach offers a potential middle ground. While longer-term follow-up is planned, this trial provides hope that a simple, supervised supplement regimen could empower men to stay on active surveillance with greater confidence, sparing many from life-altering treatments they do not need.
