Dietary fiber, whole grains, carbohydrate, glycemic index, and glycemic load in relation to risk of prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: The relationships between dietary fiber, whole grains, carbohydrate, glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and prostate cancer risk are unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate these associations. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified by a search of PubMed database and EMBASE database up to April 2015. A random effects model was used to calculate the summary relative risks (RRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Twenty-seven epidemiological studies (18 case–control studies and nine cohort studies) were included in the final analysis. The pooled RRs of prostate cancer were 0.94 (95% CI 0.85–1.05, P=0.285), 1.13 (95% CI 0.98–1.30, P=0.095), 0.96 (95% CI 0.81–1.14, P=0.672), 1.06 (95% CI 0.96–1.18, P=0.254), and 1.04 (95% CI 0.91–1.18, P=0.590) for dietary fiber, whole grains, carbohydrate, GI, and GL, respectively. There was no evidence of significant publication bias based on the Begg’s test and Egger’s test. CONCLUSION: The findings of this meta-analysis indicate that, based on available information, dietary fiber, whole grains, carbohydrate, GI, and GL are not associated with the risk of prostate cancer.