Intermittent fasting diet to help prostate cancer and metabolic health
Official title: Intermittent Fasting using a Fasting-Mimetic Diet to Improve Prostate Cancer Control and Metabolic Outcomes
Funded at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NIH-11357610 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing plan tests a fasting-mimicking diet to help men with prostate cancer improve cancer control and metabolism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cedars-Sinai Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $681,082 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA280081-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11357610 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult men with prostate cancer undergoing standard therapy, especially those at risk for metabolic complications.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not respond to the diet or may experience adverse effects from fasting.
What this research studies
This project looks at how a very low-calorie, plant-based fasting-mimicking diet given for 5 days each month affects prostate cancer outcomes and metabolic health in men on treatment. It builds on prior human and animal studies suggesting insulin, glucose, and IGF-1 changes can influence cancer growth and treatment side effects. The researchers will monitor markers in blood, weight, and overall health while men follow the diet in the context of their cancer care. The goal is to see if this approach can delay cancer progression and reduce metabolic risks associated with common therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help managing prostate cancer more effectively while also improving metabolic health and reducing treatment-related risks.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary human data and multiple animal studies support potential benefits of fasting-mimicking approaches in cancer and metabolism.
Where this research is happening
-
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freedland, Stephen Jay — Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Freedland, Stephen Jay
Related research
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Intermittent fasting with a fasting-mimicking diet to help prostate cancer control and metabolic health
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Intermittent Fasting with a Special Diet for Prostate Cancer and Metabolism
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.