Effects of an exercise and hypocaloric healthy eating program on biomarkers associated with long-term prognosis after early-stage breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial

Cancer Causes Control. 2013 Jan;24(1):181-91. doi: 10.1007/s10552-012-0104-x. Epub 2012 Nov 27.

Abstract

Excess body weight at diagnosis and weight gain after breast cancer are associated with poorer long-term prognosis. This study investigated the effects of a lifestyle intervention on body weight and other health outcomes influencing long-term prognosis in overweight women (BMI > 25.0 kg/m(2)) recovering from early-stage (stage I-III) breast cancer. A total of 90 women treated 3-18 months previously were randomly allocated to a 6-month exercise and hypocaloric healthy eating program (n = 47, aged 55.6 ± 10.2 year) or control group (n = 43, aged 55.9 ± 8.9 year). Women in the intervention group received three supervised exercise sessions per week and individualized dietary advice, supplemented by weekly nutrition seminars. Body weight, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio [WHR], cardiorespiratory fitness, blood biomarkers associated with breast cancer recurrence and cardiovascular disease risk, and quality of life (FACT-B) were assessed at baseline and 6 months. Three-day diet diaries were used to assess macronutrient and energy intakes. A moderate reduction in body weight in the intervention group (median difference from baseline of -1.09 kg; IQR -0.15 to -2.90 kg; p = 0.07) was accompanied by significant reductions in waist circumference (p < 0.001), WHR (p = 0.005), total (p = 0.021) and saturated fat (p = 0.006) intakes, leptin (p = 0.005), total cholesterol (p = 0.046), and resting diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.03). Cardiopulmonary fitness (p < 0.001) and FACT-B quality of life (p = 0.004) also showed significant improvements in the intervention group. These findings suggest that an individualized exercise and a hypocaloric healthy eating program can positively impact upon health outcomes influencing long-term prognosis in overweight women recovering from early-stage breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor* / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor* / blood
  • Biomarkers, Tumor* / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Caloric Restriction*
  • Carcinoma / complications
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / therapy
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Exercise Therapy / methods
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology*
  • Female
  • Health
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Overweight / blood
  • Overweight / complications
  • Overweight / diagnosis
  • Overweight / therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Survivors / statistics & numerical data
  • Weight Reduction Programs / methods*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor

Associated data

  • ISRCTN/ISRCTN08045231