A low-fat, nutritionally balanced diet may reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer

Written by doctors of Internal Oncology - Radiation Oncology Center, Vinmec Times City International Hospital

According to investigators from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, long-term adherence to a reduced-fat diet that includes a daily intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains reduces the risk of mortality from breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

A low-fat diet reduces a woman's risk of dying from breast cancer by 21% "A change in diet may have a positive effect on a woman's risk of dying from breast cancer". Lead investigator Dr. Rowan Chlebowski, of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California. This is the first study to provide "Randomized Controlled Trial Evidence" that dietary interventions can reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer, Chlebowski told reporters in a previous press conference. presentation at ASCO 2019 in Chicago, USA.
In this study 48,835 postmenopausal women (ages 50 to 79) without breast cancer, whose daily fat intake was about one-third or more of their total daily calories surname. These women were randomly assigned to either a regular diet group or a dietary intervention group.
The goal of the intervention is to reduce fat intake to 20% of daily calories and consume five daily servings of vegetables and fruits and six servings of whole grains. This dietary intervention significantly reduced fat intake and increased fruit, vegetable, and whole grain intake. It resulted in a modest weight loss (3%) (for all, P < 0.001)
The dietary intervention lasted over a period of 8.5 years. During that time, there were 8% fewer breast cancers in the intervention group. Breast cancer deaths were somewhat lower in the intervention group, but the rates were not significantly different. However, mortality after breast cancer (that is, breast cancer and death from any cause) was significantly reduced in the intervention group, both during the 8.5 years of the intervention and the cumulative follow-up period. .
At the press conference, Dr. Chlebowski focused on these new results with a longer follow-up period. The median follow-up was 19.6 years, including 3364 cases of breast cancer among all participants. In the intervention group, there was a statistically significant 21% lower risk of breast cancer death (breast cancer and breast cancer death) compared with conventional dietary control participants (hazard ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 - 0.97). In addition, there was a significant 15% reduction in all-cause mortality after breast cancer diagnosis in the intervention group (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74 - 0.96).

Dr. Lidia Schapiro, MD, Stanford University, California, who co-moderated the press conference program said prevention research is "very important," despite the fact that the intervention group accomplished its fat loss goal. 20% (most women reduce daily intake to 25% or less of all calories). Clinicians should encourage postmenopausal women to "put fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on their plate".
"This study shows that diet can make a difference in the risk of dying from breast cancer," commented ASCO President Monica M. Bertagnolli
Although there are also some questions, Other critics argue that this is an observational study, not really randomized. The report also did not specify which foods and fats should be reduced. But anyway the study was done on a large number of participants and conducted over a very long time, so the results obtained are also "extraordinary" significant.

Source: Medscape Medical News © 2019