Significant changes in dietary intake and supplement use after breast cancer diagnosis in a UK multicentre study

Abstract

The diagnosis of cancer can motivate survivors to alter their lifestyle habits. Healthcare providers need to be aware of what changes patients are likely to make in order to derive more pertinent recommendations; however, few studies have reported pre-and post-diagnostic lifestyle behaviours. Semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) completed approximately 1 year after diagnosis were used to evaluate dietary intake and supplement use before and after diagnosis in a cohort of 1,560 breast cancer patients participating in the UK, prospective DietCompLyf study. Intake of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and lean sources of protein increased significantly postdiagnosis (P \ 0.05, each). Conversely, after diagnosis consumption of high-fat, high-sugar products, red meat, coffee, some alcoholic drinks and refined grains significantly decreased (P \ 0.05, each). Post-diagnostic changes in diet were accompanied by changes in the intake of macronutrients and a number of vitamins and minerals. Supplement use was highly prevalent (56.1%) pre-diagnosis, increasing to 62.8% after diagnosis (P = 0.001). Fish oils, multivitamin and minerals, and evening primrose oil were most often used and the proportion of users significantly increased (P \ 0.05, each) after diagnosis. The percentage of women using oestrogenic botanical supplements (OBSs) was small but more than doubled to 8.4% after diagnosis (P \ 0.05). British women participating in the DietCompLyf study reported significant changes in dietary intake and supplement use after their breast cancer diagnosis. These findings contribute to our understanding of female cancer survivors' dietary behaviours which is crucial for developing and implementing recommendations.

The DietCompLyf study: A prospective cohort study of breast cancer survival and phytoestrogen consumption

“…An interim analysis of patients recruited onto DietCompLyf identified that 56% of patients were supplement users prediagnosis [30]. With recruitment now complete estimates using data from all the participants who provided a pre-diagnosis FFQ highlights a reduced proportion of supplement users (47%).…”

Health, health-related behavior and Quality of Life of middle- and old-aged women in Hungary

“…This difference can be seen when analyzing the details: after the diagnosis among women with tumor the number of more raw fruits and vegetables consumers was five times as much as in women with osteoporosis and also the proportion of less fat consumers was the same. Our findings about changing diet in tumor treated women are correlating to other findings: the intake of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein significantly increased after the diagnosis, and consumption of high-fat, high-sugar products, red meat, coffee, some alcoholic drinks and refined grains significantly decreased [164].…”

PhytoCloud: A Gamified Mobile Web Application to Modulate Diet and Physical Activity of Women with Breast Cancer

“…We have identified the use of mobile technology and gamification to monitor diet and motivate individuals maintain favourable dietary and exercise patterns as weight gain post diagnosis is recognised as poor prognostic indicator [6] [13]. This project is targeting to further our understanding of breast cancer patients' dietary behaviour and will provide insight into how gamification can be incorporated in Mobile Web App design with the aim of ensuring sustained use of this technology to achieve the desirable results of the adaptation of a healthier life style.…”

“…Data from 3,159 patients from 56 UK-based hospitals have being studied in terms of their diet and lifestyle and their long term outcomes [5]. The DietCompLyf study has shown that approximately half of all patients with breast cancer make a dietary or lifestyle change within 12 ±3 months following diagnosis [6]. At recruitment 92.2% of patients on the DietCompLyf study completed the 130-item food frequency questionnaire and similarly 94.7% of patients completed the lifestyle questionnaire, highlighting the highly motivated nature of this group of individuals [5].…”