The Effect of Individual Nutrition Counseling on Diet and Nutrition Status of Postoperative Breast Cancer Patients

This study was conducted to assess the effect of nutrition counseling for postoperative female breast cancer patients (N = 38). In baseline survey, we investigated the nutrition parameters by measuring anthropometric and biochemical blood index and assessing nutrient intake using recall method. Individual nutrition counseling was performed 3 times with 2 - 3 weeks intervals. Patients were offered nutrition information related to breast cancer and desirable life style after cancer operation. The effects of counseling program were assessed 2 month later. Of biochemical parameters, serum total cholesterol level was significantly reduced after nutrition counseling program. Nutrient intakes of postoperative breast cancer patients were generally below the RDA level at the baseline survey. After nutrition counseling, mean daily intake of total energy, protein, calcium were significantly elevated. Of dietary habit, meal regularity and control of portion size were improved and fruits and vegetables intake were significantly increased after nutrition counseling. Control of fatty food intake and alcohol drinking were significantly improved after nutrition counseling program. Score of general nutrition knowledge and knowledge about breast cancer, were significantly increased after nutrition counseling from 2.1 to 3.2 and from 2.3 to 3.8, respectively. It can be postulated that the dietary habit and nutrients intake of postoperative breast cancer patients can be improved by individual nutrition counseling program. In further study, the systematic group nutrition counseling program is needed.

Intake of Dietary Fat and Vitamin in Relation to Breast Cancer Risk in Korean Women: A Case-Control Study

To investigate association between breast cancer risk and nutrients intake in Korean women, a case-control study was carried out, at Seoul, Korea. Incident cases (n=224) were identified through the cancer biopsy between February 1999 and December 2000 at two University hospitals in Seoul. Hospital-based controls (n=250) were selected from patients in the same hospitals, during the same periods. Food intake was investigated semiquantitative frequency questionnaire (98 items) by trained dietitian. Subjects were asked to indicate the average food intake and vitamin supplement for a 12 months period of 3-yr prior to the base-line phase. In investigation of vitamin supplement use, subjects were asked the average frequency of use, duration, dose and the brand name of vitamin supplement (multivitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E). And nutrients were calorie adjusted by the residuals method. In this study, higher breast cancer risk incidence was not observed with higher intake of total fat and saturated fatty acids, however statistically significant trends with breast cancer incidence for total saturated fatty acids were found (p trend =0.0458). In analyses of vitamins, beta-carotene and vitamin C were significantly associated with decreasing risk of breast cancer. In analyses, results from dietary plus supplement of vitamin was not associated with breast cancer risk in this study. In conclusion, our findings suggest that antioxidant vitamins such as beta-carotene and vitamin C intake could lower the breast cancer risk in Korean women.

Relation of Breast Cancer Risk with Alcohol Consumption and Physical Activity : A Case-Control Study

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption, physical activity and breast cancer risk in Korean women. Newly histologically identified cases (N = 108) were selected at Hanyang and Soonchunhyang University Hospitals in Seoul, from January 1998 to August 1999. Hospital-based controls (n = 121) were the patients who visited at the same hospital in the department of plastic surgery, general surgery and opthalmology. Subjects were asked informations on demographic, reproductive, and history of breast feeding as well as physical activity, exercise habit, alcohol consumption by individual interview. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated by using unconditional logistic regression after adjusted for confounding factors. Among postmenopausal women, the risk of breast cancer increased with increasing alcohol drinking: relative risk for the highest group (> or = 150 g per week) compared with the lowest group (never drinking) was 2.05 (CI=1.74-3.79). Association of exercise and high physical activity for breast cancer appeared to be limited to women with high physical index among postmenopausal women. We observed decreasing risk of breast cancer with increasing physical activity index among postmenopausal women (OR=0.49,95% CI=0.56-0.92). Results of this study support a protective effects of physical activity during adulthood for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Risk and Dietary Factor: A Case-Control Study

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary factors on the risk of breast cancer in Korean women. METHODS: New histologically proven breast cancer cases (n=108) were selected at Hanyang and Soonchunhyang University Hospitals in Seoul. Controls (n=121) were selected from patients in the Departments of Plastic Surgery, General Surgery and Opthalmology at the same hospitals by frequency matching of age and menopausal status. Informations on demographic, reproductive, and dietary factors were collected by an interviewer. Food intake was assessed by using food frequency questionnaires. The association of dietary factors with breast cancer risk was analyzed using total nutrient intake and food intake based on menopausal status. The statistical analysis was done by using unconditional logistic regression after adjusting for age and other confounding factors. RESULTS: The results were as follows: Breast cancer risk significantly decreased with consumption of the following nutrients: fiber in postmenopausal women, vit C in postmenopausal and total women, and vit E in premenopausal women. However, neither total energy nor fat intake was associated with development of breast cancer. Grape and pepper intake in premenopausal women and kimchi intake in total women were significantly associated with decreasing risk of breast cancer. Overall consumption of vegetables and fruits was associated with decreased breast cancer risk. CONCLUSION: Consumption of vegetables and fruits showed a protective effect in breast cancer risk, but neither the intake of fat nor the intake of protein was associated with breast cancer risk in this study. These findings suggest that the consumption of vegetables, and fruits is a protective factor. Further studies with larger numbers of subjects should be conducted to evaluate the association between breast cancer risk and dietary factors.