Researchers of this pilot study assessed the impact of a high-fiber plant-based dietary (HFPBD) intervention on 20 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). Over 12 weeks, participants received the dietary intervention and 24 weeks of health coaching. Results indicated that the intervention was safe, feasible, and improved quality of life, addressing key risk factors like BMI, insulin resistance, and immune dysfunction. It also increased microbiome diversity, promoting beneficial bacteria such as butyrate producers.

An in vivo study using transgenic Vk*MYC mice demonstrated that a high-fiber diet significantly delayed progression to multiple myeloma (mMM), with progression-free survival increasing from 12 weeks in the control group to 30 weeks in the intervention group. Forty percent of mice in the high-fiber group did not progress to mMM, compared to 100% progression in the control group. Both human and mouse data showed that the diet modulated the microbiome, enhancing butyrate producers and increasing short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, it reduced inflammation and supported immune responses that could delay disease progression. This study is the first to suggest that a high-fiber plant-based diet may help delay the progression of MGUS/SMM to multiple myeloma.

Reference: Shah UA, Cogrossi LL, Derkach A, et al. A High-Fiber Dietary Intervention (NUTRIVENTION) in Precursor Plasma Cell Disorders Improves Biomarkers of Disease and May Delay Progression to Myeloma. Oral and Poster Abstracts, Session 651: Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Dyscrasias: Basic and Translational. Hematol Oncol. 2024;43(2):e70042. doi: 10.1002/hon.70042.