The University of Bristol has been awarded funding of nearly £50k from leading cancer prevention charity World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF UK), to embark on a study that will examine the links between prostate cancer and diet.

Headed up by George Davey Smith, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology in the Department of Social Medicine and a team of researchers, the project will involve 3,000 males who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer by examining their genetic makeup, which can predispose them to an increased risk of the disease.

Using DNA extracted from blood samples of men invited for prostate cancer screening, the team will determine how a man’s genes relate to dietary choice and the metabolism of diet; and in turn relate genes and diet to an individual’s prostate cancer risk.

Some foods are thought to increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, in particular a high consumption of milk, a lack of vegetables and a low intake of certain vitamins. Participants will keep up-to-date ‘food diaries’ to enable researchers to investigate the links between genes, the type of foods consumed and the way genetic makeup can change the body’s exposure to them.

Commenting on the study, Professor Davey Smith said: “Thanks to the funding from WCRF UK we will have a better understanding of the potential of preventing prostate cancer through dietary means.”

WCRF UK is the country’s leading charity dedicated to the prevention of cancer through healthy diets and lifestyles.

The charity is committed to providing cancer research and education programmes which expand our understanding of the importance of food and lifestyle choices in the cancer process.