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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a whole-food, plant-based diet can help lower cancer markers in firefighters. Participants will either follow this diet, which includes mostly vegan foods with some fish, eggs, and fermented dairy, or continue with their usual firehouse meals. It suits active firefighters who are open to trying a plant-based diet and can attend four clinic visits. The researchers aim to determine if changing eating habits can serve as a strategy for cancer prevention in this group. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research on diet and cancer prevention.

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 prior data suggests that this dietary intervention is safe for firefighters?

Research has shown that a plant-based diet is generally safe and may reduce the risk of some cancers, particularly those affecting the digestive system. Studies indicate that people who consume more plant-based foods have a 10%–12% lower risk of developing cancer overall. This diet typically includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, known for their health benefits.

In this study, the diet also incorporates fish, eggs, and fermented dairy products. These foods are common in many healthy eating plans and are generally considered safe. Overall, plant-based diets are not only safe but might also enhance long-term health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet for cancer prevention in firefighters because it emphasizes a mostly vegan diet with nutrient-rich whole foods, supplemented by fish, eggs, and fermented dairy. Unlike typical dietary approaches that may focus on nutrient supplements or medication, this diet promotes the consumption of natural, whole foods to potentially reduce cancer risk. This approach is unique because it combines the benefits of a plant-based diet with select animal products to provide a balanced intake of essential nutrients, which could offer a new preventive strategy for those at higher cancer risk, like firefighters.

What evidence suggests that a whole-food, plant-based diet could be effective for cancer prevention in firefighters?

Research has shown that a plant-based diet can help reduce the risk of some cancers, particularly those affecting the digestive system. A study from 2012 found that people who primarily consume plants have an 18% lower risk of cancer compared to those who eat meat. Another study indicated that diets including only plants or fish can significantly lower cancer risk. Vegans, who do not consume any animal products, appear to have the lowest cancer rates. In this trial, participants will either follow a Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet, which includes predominantly vegan foods with the addition of fish, eggs, and fermented dairy, or continue with their Usual Firehouse Diet. These findings suggest that eating mostly whole, plant-based foods could effectively reduce cancer risks. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Christopher D Gardner, PhD

Principal Investigator

Stanford University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

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]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/whole-foods-plant-based-diet-for-cancer-prevention-in-firefighters-a6928

Whole Foods Plant-Based Diet for Cancer Prevention in ... Research suggests that healthful plant-based diets can lower the risk of certain cancers, such as digestive system cancers, and improve overall survival rates ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7400843/

The Impact of Plant-Based Dietary Patterns on Cancer- ... Plant-based foods may enhance the prevention of cancer-related outcomes in these patients. We aimed to synthesize the current evidence regarding the impact of ...

3. medscape.com medscape.com/viewarticle/plant-heavy-diets-link-reduced-cancer-risk-strengthened-2025a1000mhu

Plant-Heavy Diets' Link to Reduced Cancer Risk ... A 2012 meta-analysis of seven studies found that vegetarians had an 18% lower risk for cancer than nonvegetarians. Similarly, a 2017 meta- ...

4. ndph.ox.ac.uk ndph.ox.ac.uk/news/new-study-finds-lower-risks-of-cancer-for-vegetarians-pescatarians-and-low-meat-eaters

New study finds lower risks of cancer for vegetarians ... Results from a large-scale analysis show that following a vegetarian or pescatarian (fish-eating) diet could significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer.

5. today.uconn.edu today.uconn.edu/2024/10/plant-power-using-diet-to-lower-cancer-risk/

Plant power: Using diet to lower cancer risk - UConn Today In research studies, vegans, people who don't eat any animal products, including dairy, or eggs, appeared to have the lowest rates of cancer of ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3048091/

Reduced cancer risk in vegetarians: an analysis of recent ... Most large prospective observational studies show that vegetarian diets are at least modestly cancer protective (10%–12% reduction in overall cancer risk)

7. mdanderson.org mdanderson.org/cancerwise/the-benefits-of-a-plant-based-diet.h00-159780390.html

The benefits of a plant-based diet Eating a plant-based diet means your meals are mostly plants. Here are five ways eating more plant foods can help your body.

8. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2802814

Association of Plant-based Diet Adherence With Risk ... Greater adherence to a healthful plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of mortality, cancer, and particularly cardiovascular disease.

9. wcrf.org wcrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Meat-fish-and-dairy-products.pdf

Meat, fish and dairy products and the risk of cancer Our Cancer Prevention Recommendations. – for preventing cancer in general – include maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and eating a healthy ...