SF We think that it does, but we are not 100% clear about how, or about what specific dietary factors may influence the risk. Some of the most interesting studies that point to the importance of diet have looked at populations from Asia-where the risk of prostate cancer is extremely low-who move to the United States. Within just 1 or 2 generations, the prostate cancer risk in these populations approaches that found in Western society. Part of the increase is explained by the fact that we screen more in this country, but the difference in risk goes beyond that. As far as specific lifestyle factors are concerned, the historical Asian lifestyle is so different from the modern US lifestyle that it is very challenging to pinpoint specific differences that would explain the disparity in cancer risk. Trying to identify foods that might increase or decrease the risk of prostate cancer is overly reductionist in my view, and clinical trials of specific dietary interventions are rarely able to detect an effect.
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