Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet for Cancer Prevention in Firefighters

(IGNITE FH Trial)

Overseen By Jennifer Robinson, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Stanford University

Must not be taking: Antibiotics, Corticosteroids, Cytokines, others

Disqualifiers: Uncontrolled diabetes, Cancer, Immunosuppression, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

120 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Investigators hope to learn about potential dietary intervention strategies (specifically a whole-food, plant-based diet) that may help lower cancer markers in firefighters.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you have not used certain medications like antibiotics, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs in the last 2 months. If you are currently taking these, you may need to stop before participating.

What data supports the effectiveness of a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet as a treatment for cancer prevention in firefighters?

Research suggests that healthful plant-based diets can lower the risk of certain cancers, such as digestive system cancers, and improve overall survival rates in cancer patients. Emphasizing a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits while reducing red meat intake may help in cancer prevention. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is a whole foods plant-based diet safe for humans?

Research suggests that a healthy plant-based diet is generally safe and may even reduce the risk of certain cancers, like those in the digestive system. However, it's important to focus on the quality of the plant-based foods, as unhealthy plant-based diets might not offer the same benefits. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

How does a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet differ from other treatments for cancer prevention?

A Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet is unique because it focuses on consuming unprocessed plant foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, which have been associated with a reduced risk of various cancers, including digestive system cancers. Unlike other treatments that may involve medications or supplements, this diet emphasizes natural food sources and lifestyle changes to potentially lower cancer risk. ^{2 6 8 10 11}

Research Team

Christopher D Gardner, PhD

Principal Investigator

Stanford University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for active San Francisco firefighters who are 18 years or older and willing to switch to a whole-food, plant-based diet. Participants must also be open to attending four clinic visits.

Inclusion Criteria

I am currently an active San Francisco firefighter.

I am willing to follow a plant-based diet.

I am willing to go to the clinic 4 times.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomly assigned to either a whole-food, plant-based diet or their usual firehouse meals for 12 weeks

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet

Trial Overview The study is testing the effects of a usual firehouse diet against a whole foods plant-based diet on cancer markers, inflammation, immune system function, and microbiome health in firefighters.

Participant Groups

Group I: Whole Food Plant-Based Diet Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be asked to consume and predominantly vegan, whole-foods diet, with the addition of fish, eggs, and fermented dairy.

Group II: Usual Firehouse Diet Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will be asked to consume their usual firehouse meals.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Stanford University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,527

Recruited

17,430,000+

Findings from Research

In a study of 3646 breast cancer survivors over a median follow-up of 9.51 years, a healthful plant-based diet was linked to a lower risk of all-cause and non-breast-cancer mortality, suggesting potential benefits for overall survival.

Conversely, a diet high in unhealthful plant-based foods was associated with an increased risk of mortality, highlighting the importance of focusing on healthful plant foods in dietary recommendations for breast cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Breast Cancer Recurrence and Survival in the Pathways Study. Anyene, IC., Ergas, IJ., Kwan, ML., et al.[2022]

A healthy plant-based diet (hPDI) is associated with a reduced risk of total digestive system cancers, with significant reductions observed for gastrointestinal tract and liver cancers, based on data from three large cohorts totaling over 4.9 million person-years.

Conversely, an unhealthful plant-based diet (uPDI) is linked to an increased risk of gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, highlighting the importance of diet quality in cancer prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Plant-based dietary patterns and the risk of digestive system cancers in 3 large prospective cohort studies. Kim, J., Khil, J., Kim, H., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 23 studies found that dietary modifications, particularly the Mediterranean diet (MD), ketogenic diet (KD), and plant-based diet, can significantly reduce the risk of cancer development and progression.

The Mediterranean diet has the most extensive research backing its effectiveness across various cancer types, while more studies are needed to fully understand the impacts of the ketogenic and plant-based diets on cancer outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Modern Dietary Practices on Cancer Risk and Progression: A Systematic Review. Nagy, S., Petrosky, SN., Demory Beckler, M., et al.[2023]

Current public health recommendations to reduce total fat intake for cancer prevention are largely unsupported by evidence, suggesting that such measures may not be necessary.

Reducing red meat intake, especially processed meats, is associated with a decreased risk of colorectal and prostate cancers, and may also have a modest benefit for breast cancer, highlighting the importance of dietary choices in cancer prevention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary fat and cancer. Kushi, L., Giovannucci, E.[2019]

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a significant reduction in cancer mortality (pooled hazard ratio of 0.84), suggesting it may be beneficial for both the general population and cancer survivors.

The evidence for vegetarian diets in preventing overall cancer mortality is inconclusive, as studies did not show a significant advantage compared to non-vegetarian diets, indicating a need for more research on plant-based dietary patterns and their impact on cancer outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Plant-Based Dietary Patterns on Cancer-Related Outcomes: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis. Molina-Montes, E., Salamanca-Fernández, E., Garcia-Villanova, B., et al.[2021]

A healthy plant-based diet (hPDI) is linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), with a hazard ratio of 0.86, indicating a significant protective effect, especially against KRAS-wildtype CRC.

Conversely, an unhealthy plant-based diet (uPDI), characterized by refined grains and sugars, is associated with a higher incidence of CRC, with a hazard ratio of 1.16, highlighting the importance of diet quality in cancer risk.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Healthy and unhealthy plant-based diets in relation to the incidence of colorectal cancer overall and by molecular subtypes. Wang, F., Ugai, T., Haruki, K., et al.[2022]

Recent large cohort studies indicate that plant-based diets are linked to a lower risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke, supporting their role in improving cardiovascular health.

While plant-based diets can be beneficial, it's crucial to focus on nutrient-rich foods and avoid harmful plant foods, as diet quality significantly impacts health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Update on Plant-Based Diets and Cardiometabolic Risk. Del Re, A., Aspry, K.[2022]

The 8-week 'Coping with Cancer in the Kitchen' (CCK) program significantly improved cancer survivors' knowledge, confidence, and skills in adopting a plant-based diet compared to receiving printed materials, with 54 participants involved in the study.

Participants in the CCK program showed a notable reduction in processed meat intake and decreased perceived barriers to eating more fruits and vegetables, suggesting that in-person education can effectively promote healthier dietary choices among cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effectiveness of Coping with Cancer in the Kitchen, a Nutrition Education Program for Cancer Survivors. Miller, MF., Li, Z., Habedank, M.[2021]

In a case-control study of 128 glioma patients and 256 controls, higher adherence to a plant-based diet (PDI) and a healthy plant-based diet (hPDI) was linked to significantly lower odds of developing glioma, with reductions of 69% and 71% respectively for those in the highest dietary score tertiles.

Conversely, a higher score on the unhealthy plant-based diet (uPDI) was associated with a nearly threefold increase in the odds of glioma, indicating that unhealthy plant-based eating patterns may increase cancer risk.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adherence to plant-based dietary patterns in relation to glioma: a case-control study. Mousavi, SM., Shayanfar, M., Rigi, S., et al.[2022]

A meta-analysis of cohort and case-control studies involving plant-based diets found that these diets significantly reduce the risk of digestive system cancers, with adjusted risk ratios indicating a protective effect (RR = 0.82 for cohort studies and OR = 0.70 for case-control studies).

Subgroup analyses revealed that plant-based diets particularly lower the risk of specific cancers, such as pancreatic (RR = 0.71), colorectal (RR = 0.76), rectal (RR = 0.84), and colon cancers (RR = 0.88), suggesting a strong protective role against these types of cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Relationship Between Plant-Based Diet and Risk of Digestive System Cancers: A Meta-Analysis Based on 3,059,009 Subjects. Zhao, Y., Zhan, J., Wang, Y., et al.[2022]

A higher pro plant-based dietary score, indicating greater consumption of plant products compared to animal products, is associated with a reduced risk of overall cancer, particularly digestive and lung cancers, in a study of 42,544 adults over a 7-year period.

This research supports the idea that a balanced omnivorous diet rich in plant-based foods can play a significant role in cancer prevention, aligning with previous experimental studies that suggest similar benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Association between a pro plant-based dietary score and cancer risk in the prospective NutriNet-santé cohort. Kane-Diallo, A., Srour, B., Sellem, L., et al.[2019]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Breast Cancer Recurrence and Survival in the Pathways Study. [2022]

2. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Plant-based dietary patterns and the risk of digestive system cancers in 3 large prospective cohort studies. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Modern Dietary Practices on Cancer Risk and Progression: A Systematic Review. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary fat and cancer. [2019]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Plant-Based Dietary Patterns on Cancer-Related Outcomes: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Healthy and unhealthy plant-based diets in relation to the incidence of colorectal cancer overall and by molecular subtypes. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Update on Plant-Based Diets and Cardiometabolic Risk. [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effectiveness of Coping with Cancer in the Kitchen, a Nutrition Education Program for Cancer Survivors. [2021]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adherence to plant-based dietary patterns in relation to glioma: a case-control study. [2022]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Relationship Between Plant-Based Diet and Risk of Digestive System Cancers: A Meta-Analysis Based on 3,059,009 Subjects. [2022]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Association between a pro plant-based dietary score and cancer risk in the prospective NutriNet-santé cohort. [2019]