Dietary Protein Promotes Increased Progression Free Survival in Women with Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most challenging cancers for women. Even after completing treatment, many women face a high risk of the cancer coming back. Integrative medicine and lifestyle changes can provide women with science-backed options for reducing recurrence risk. Recent research has found that ovarian cancer survivors who do not consume enough protein may be at higher risk for recurrence.

Here’s what the science says about protein intake and ovarian cancer recovery:

1. Why Protein Matters After Treatment

• Up to 70% of women with ovarian cancer experience malnutrition during or after treatment.

• Common issues like nausea, loss of appetite, or feeling full too quickly make it hard to eat enough.

• This often leads to muscle loss, which weakens the body and is linked with worse survival rates.

That’s why cancer nutrition guidelines recommend more protein than the average person eats. While most healthy adults need about 0.8–1 gram per kilogram of body weight daily, women recovering from ovarian cancer may benefit from 1–1.5 grams per kilogram.

2. What the OPAL Study Found

The Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle (OPAL) Study followed nearly 1,000 Australian women with ovarian cancer. Researchers focused on 591 women who were alive and cancer-free one year after treatment.

Key findings:

• Women who ate more than 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight OR got at least 20% of daily calories from protein had longer progression-free survival (more time before the cancer came back).

  
  

3. Not All Protein Sources Are Equal

Interestingly, the study looked at both animal-based and plant-based proteins. Results showed:

• Animal protein (meat, fish, eggs, and especially dairy) had the strongest link with better outcomes.

• Dairy products stood out, possibly because they are rich in leucine, an amino acid that helps preserve muscle.

• Plant protein didn’t show the same benefits. This may be because plant proteins are less digestible and lower in some essential amino acids.

  
  

  Organic animal proteins (meat, dairy) are preferred due to organic regulations prohibiting the use or rBGH (synthetic recombinant bovine growth hormone) in organic foods. rBGH can increase a growth factor known as IGF-1, which is linked with cancer growth.

  Additionally, choosing grass fed animal products may also provide a benefit as corn fed animals have been found to have higher IgF-1 levels compared to those fed grass.

  
  

4. Practical Takeaways for Women in Recovery

• Aim for 1–1.5 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. For a 150-pound woman (68 kg), that’s about 70–100 grams of protein.

• Choose high-quality sources like ORGANIC and GRASS FED lean meats, fish, eggs, yogurt, and milk.

• Don’t skip ORGANIC dairy if it fits your diet—it may provide extra muscle-preserving benefits.

• Plant-based eaters should include a variety of foods like beans, lentils, tofu, quinoa, and nuts to get a complete mix of amino acids.

Many women battling ovarian cancer have impaired gastrointestinal function as a consequence of treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation, and even surgery can produce severe changes in the body, including a decrease in gastrointestinal function. This results in inflammation, dysbiosis, and a decreased ability to absorb nutrients. Choosing easy to digest foods like bone broth, fish, and eggs can be helpful, as can consuming foods that promote healthy gut bacteria like yogurt, sauerkraut, and resistant starches

5. The Bottom Line

This is one of the first studies to directly link protein intake after ovarian cancer treatment with survival outcomes. While it doesn’t prove protein can prevent recurrence, it does show that eating enough protein—especially from high-quality sources—may help women stay stronger and enjoy more time cancer-free.