Abstract
Certain food groups are often rejected during chemotherapy (CT) due to the side effects of treatment, which may interfere with adequate diet and nutritional status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment impact on the diet and nutritional status of women with breast cancer (BC). In this prospective longitudinal study, conducted in 2014–2015, 55 women diagnosed with BC, with a mean age 51.5±10.1 years, were followed and data were collected at three different times. Anthropometric and dietary assessments were performed, the latter by applying nine 24h dietary recalls, by using the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised (BHEI-R), and calculating the prevalence of inadequacy by the EAR cut-off point method. Regarding the BHEI-R analysis, the majority of women had a “diet requires modification’, both at the beginning (T0, 58.2%, n = 32) and during treatment (T1, 54.5%, n = 30). However, after the end of the CT, the greater percentage of patients (T2, 49.1%, n = 27) were classified as having an "inadequate diet", since the Total Fruit consumption as well as the Dark Green and Orange Vegetable and Legume consumption decreased significantly during treatment (p = 0.043 and p = 0.026, respectively). There was a significant reduction in the intake of macro and micronutrients, with a high prevalence of inadequacy, of up to 100%, for calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin C and zinc. Assessment of the nutritional status indicated that 56% (n = 31) of patients were overweight at these three different times. Weight, BMI and Waist Circumference increased significantly, indicating a worse nutritional status, and there was a correlation between poor diet quality and higher values for BMI, Waist-Hip Ratio and Waist-to-Height Ratio. Chemotherapy interferes in the patients’ diet generating a negative impact on the quality and intake of micro and macronutrients, as well as an impact on their nutritional status, with an increase in anthropometric measurements.
Highlights
The number of cases and annual deaths from cancer by 2035 is expected to be 23.9 and 14.6 million, respectively, representing an increase of 69.5% in the number of cases, and 78% in the number of deaths compared to 2012 [1]
The adoption of healthy eating habits with a high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry and fish, instead of a western dietary pattern characterized by a high consumption of refined grains, sweets, high-fat dairy products, and red and processed meats, might improve the overall prognosis and survival of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer [5]
High prevalence of inadequacy, up to 100%, were identified for calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, niacina, riboflavina, thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin C and zinc
Summary
The number of cases and annual deaths from cancer by 2035 is expected to be 23.9 and 14.6 million, respectively, representing an increase of 69.5% in the number of cases, and 78% in the number of deaths compared to 2012 [1]. The number of new cancer cases registered in 2012 was 14.1 million (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers) and, of this total, 11.8% were from breast cancer, the second most common type which is just behind cancer lung (12.9%) [2]. In Brazil, it is estimated that by 2016 approximately 596,000 cases of cancer will be registered, and of these, approximately 58,000 will be new cases of breast cancer, the predominant type among women in the country [3]. The adoption of healthy eating habits with a high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry and fish, instead of a western dietary pattern characterized by a high consumption of refined grains, sweets, high-fat dairy products, and red and processed meats, might improve the overall prognosis and survival of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer [5]
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