A Mediterranean diet and plenty of green tea could benefit men with prostate cancer, New Zealand researchers said Tuesday.

The small-scale pilot study by the University of Auckland monitored 20 men who had been diagnosed prostate cancer and adhered to a Mediterranean-style diet for three months.

"We showed that dietary change to a Mediterranean-style diet is both achievable and beneficial for men with prostate cancer in New Zealand, albeit in a small and motivated group," study leader Dr Karen Bishop said in a statement.

"This result adds weight to the notion that a low-inflammatory, high antioxidant diet may benefit men with prostate cancer."

Nutritionist Sharon Erdrich said they evaluated a prostate specific antigen, C-reactive protein, and DNA damage after three months of following the diet.

"Significant reduction in DNA damage was found especially where the men adhered closely to the Mediterranean-style diet and increased their consumption of pulses and green tea," Edrich said in the statement.

A more Western-style diet, high in processed foods, was associated with an increased incidence of prostate cancer.

The Mediterranean diet was usually high in olive oil, fruit and vegetables, legumes, whole-grains and poultry with some fish and seafood, but low in red meat, dairy products and processed or refined foods.

For the study, the traditional Mediterranean diet was augmented with other foods known to reduce inflammation, including broccoli, pomegranate juice, salmon and green tea.