Characteristics of newly diagnosed women with breast cancer: a comparison with the recommendations of the WCRF/AICR Second Report.

INTRODUCTION: The Second Expert Report, Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective from World Cancer Research Fund/ American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR), features general and special recommendations for cancer prevention. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate nutritional and lifestyle characteristics of newly diagnosed women with breast cancer according to WCRF/AICR Second Report recommendations. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 133 women. Diet data were obtained from a food frequency questionnaire and anthropometric data by standard procedures. The characteristics of study population were evaluated in comparison with the recommendations of the WCRF/AICR Second Report. RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 51.6 ± 10.98 (range 28-78) years; 35% was obese and 51% had waist circumference higher than the maximum cut-off value. Regarding life style, 80% of participants were sedentary, 89% reported diet presenting energy density higher than 125 kcal/100 g, 51% reported consumption of fruits and vegetables lower than 400 g/day, and 47% reported high consumption of red or processed meat (≥ 500 g per week). Just 3% related consumption of alcoholic beverages above the recommendation (15 g/day), 82% presented the intake of sodium lower than the limit recommended (2.4 g/day), and the use of dietary supplements was reported by 11% of the subjects. Finally 51% of women reported breast feeding for less than 6 months. CONCLUSION: Inadequacies were observed related to behavior factors that can result in weight gain, such as inadequate physical activity and high energy density diet.

Factors associated with oxidative stress in women with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between physiological, physical, lifestyle and nutritional variables and oxidative stress biomarkers in women with breast cancer. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 55 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The extent of oxidative stress was analyzed by the measurement of plasma lipid hydroperoxides (LH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl, whole blood reduced glutathione (GSH) and serum antioxidant capacity (AC). Diet data were obtained from food frequency questionnaire. Linear regression was used to determine the association between the variables studied and oxidative stress biomarkers. The protein carbonyl data was not included in the linear regression analyses since the data did not show a normal distribution, even after logarithmic and other transformations. RESULTS: After adjusting for energy intake, the intake of chicken and high-fat dairy products was associated with increased levels of LH, while vitamin E intake was associated with decreased LH levels (R² = 23.8%). Intake of oils was associated with increased levels of TBARS (R² = 6.82%). Positive axillary lymph node status was associated with decreased levels of GSH (R² = 9.31%). Increasing age was directly associated with levels of AC, while animal fat, dairy product, and sweet food intakes were associated with low levels of AC (R² = 41.42%). CONCLUSION: Intake of chicken, vitamin E, dairy products (particularly high-fat dairy products), oils, animal fat, and sweet foods, along with axillary lymph node status and age, may be important determinants of oxidative stress in women with breast cancer.

Dietary intake and oxidative stress in breast cancer: before and after treatments.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in dietary intake, anthropometric parameters and markers of oxidative stress in 40 women who underwent surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy for breast cancer. METHODS: Pretreatment and post-treatment measurements included data collected through a food frequency questionnaire, weight and height to calculate the body mass index (BMI) and oxidative stress markers assessed from blood reduced glutathione (GSH), serum antioxidant capacity (AC), plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), serum lipid hydroperoxides (LH) and plasma carbonyls. Differences were compared using paired Student's t-test or paired Wilcoxon's test. RESULTS: A significant increase (P < 0.05) in the intake of the food groups: meat and eggs, dairy products, beans, oils and fats, as well as food from the subgroups: red meat, milk and other dairy products rich in fat, fruit rich in vitamin C and vegetable fats was found after treatments. There was a significant increase in body weight (P < 0.05), BMI (P < 0.05), levels of TBARS (P < 0.0001), LH (P < 0.005) and carbonyls (P < 0.0001) and a significant decrease of levels of AC (P < 0.005) and GSH (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Breast cancer diagnosis and treatments were associated with dietary intake changes and increased body weight, BMI and oxidative stress. These potential changes have important implications for preventive nutrition counseling.