Weight loss, nutritional programs, exercise, and proper weight / Breast cancer recurrence and physical activity
Monday, January 27, 2014
A recent study in the medical journal Breast Cancer sought to answer the apparent contradictions in research that support weight loss, nutritional programs, exercise, and proper weight as the primary beneficial cause of reduction of breast cancer recurrence.
Researchers at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center detailed a comprehensive literature review. What they found in the studies was not consistent. While some observational studies have associated higher dietary fat intake with higher breast cancer incidence, two studies of dietary fat intake reduction programs did not show benefit for recurrence risk reduction.
They did find a lifestyle intervention targeting fat intake reduction in the Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS), resulted in weight loss and also reduced breast cancer recurrences in women with early stage disease.
Observational studies evaluating specific nutrient intakes and dietary supplements have provided mixed results. Several observational studies find women with early stage breast cancer with lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels at higher recurrence risk, a finding they said, required cautious interpretation.
Breast cancer recurrence and physical activity
The lifestyle factor most strongly and consistently associated with both breast cancer incidence and breast cancer recurrence risk is physical activity.
Studies support the concept that moderate recreational physical activity (about 3-4 hours of walking per week) may reduce breast cancer incidence and that women with early stage breast cancer who increased or maintain their physical activity may have lower recurrence risk as well.
2. Chlebowski RT. Nutrition and physical activity influence on breast cancer incidence and outcome. Breast. 2013 Aug;22 Suppl 2:S30-7. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2013.07.006.