Study highlights barriers faced by cancer survivors in maintaining a healthy diet

The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics focusing on the relationship between diet and cancer and the role that nutrition may play in successful cancer outcomes.

New research and analysis emerging in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, published by Elsevier, featuring the prevents cancer survivors from adhering to a healthy diet, as well as the potential role of nutrition in cancer risk and treatment.

Cancer survives high risk for poor quality of diet, especially among the less educated and overweight

A new study finds that poor diet is common in American cancer survivors with large sociodemographic differences. Researchers looked at the association between a Healthy Eating Diet (HEI) score, a measure of diet quality and adherence to the USDA Theological Guidelines for Americans, with demographic, lifestyle and health-related characteristics of 1,971 survivors cancer. Significant differences were observed across sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, particularly education levels, body mass index, and smoking status.

The study found that people living with cancer tended to overeat whole and green grains and beans and overeat sodium and saturated fat. “These findings can inform the development of specific nutritional intervention strategies to improve dietary quality in high-risk numbers of cancer survivors,” said lead researcher Eunkyung Lee, PhD, RDN, Associate Professor, Department of Health Sciences, University College Central Florida Health Professions and Sciences, Orlando, FL, USA.

Weak taste activity regularly reported with radiotherapy treatment for cancer

Researchers reviewed 25 studies to understand whether changes in taste are related to cancer diagnosis or treatment in adults. They found that cancer diagnosis alone did not appear to affect taste function. However, taste changes appeared consistently early after the start of radiotherapy treatment and had long-term effects. During chemotherapy, less consistent taste changes have not been reported.

Cancer-related malnutrition is associated with adverse health outcomes. Further research is needed to support dietitians in identifying taste changes, understanding the contributing factors, and developing effective medical nutritional remedies. “

Sze-Yen Tan, PhD, AdvAPD, Senior Lecturer and Principal Research Fellow, School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia

Breast cancer barriers prevent eating a healthy diet and staying physically healthy

A new study found that a high percentage of breast cancer survivors report making positive changes to improve their diet and physical activity after a cancer diagnosis or treatment. However, the proportion of those who ate the recommended amount of whole grains and remained physically active remained low. Many patients experienced fatigue, stress, and treatment-related changes in eating habits, and pain or discomfort as a hindrance to exercise.

The study also found that the majority of patients searched the internet for nutritional advice, and less than half said they sought nutritional advice from health care providers. Lead researcher Fang Fang Zhang, MD, PhD, Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA, says, “This disconnect reinforces the need for integrate nutrition into cancer care in patient oncology clinics. “

A Mediterranean-style diet may reduce overall cancer risk for women, but not for men

A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in vegetables and olive oil, and moderately low consumption of meat and milk, have been associated with a lower incidence of certain types of cancer. In a new study, researchers looked at the link between diet and overall cancer risk in both men and women. They found that women who ate a moderate diet were at lower risk associated with the Mediterranean diet for cancer compared to women who ate the least.

The difference between women with the highest adherence to the diet and women with moderate adherence was not significant. In men, there was no evidence that eating a Mediterranean diet was associated with an overall cancer risk.

Principal Investigator Piet A. van den Brandt, PhD, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, GROW – School for Oncology and Developmental Biology; and Professor, Department of Epidemiology, CAPHRI – School of Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands, maintains that the study drew on population non-Mediterranean study Dutch Cohort Study, and results may vary in areas where the diet is generally followed.

Women who eat chocolate frequently may have a moderately higher risk for colorectal cancer

A growing body of evidence suggests that flavonoids in chocolate have the potential to reduce the risk of cancer in humans, but most of the evidence is from laboratory and animal studies. Using data from the Women’s Health Initiative Study, a large long-term study of disease in American women, researchers looked at empirical evidence on the link between chocolate consumption and cancer risk in postmenopausal women. They found no specific association between chocolate consumption for cancer as a whole, or for breast cancer in particular.

However, women who ate at least 1.5 ounces of chocolate per week had an 18 percent higher median risk for invasive colorectal cancer. Lead researcher James A. Greenberg, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences, Brooklyn College at New York City University, Brooklyn, NY, USA, says, “Because obesity is an established risk factor for cancer colorectal, this result may be due to the excessive adiposity associated with the frequent consumption of chocolate candy. Women who consumed chocolate more often also ate more energy diet and lower quality diet foods. “

He says stricter controlled empirical tests are needed to confirm the effectiveness of the study.

Increased dietary fiber may improve gastrointestinal side effects in women receiving radiotherapy for gynecological cancers

A study of evidence finds that dietary fiber intake may be more beneficial in improving the gastrointestinal side effects of pelvic radiation in the treatment of gynecological cancers. Although some evidence indicates an improvement in the frequency and severity of diarrheal and abdominal symptoms, it is not sufficient to formulate specific recommendations for clinical use.

“Definitive recommendations regarding the type, size, frequency of supplementation, or daily fiber target are not yet possible,” says lead researcher Judy Bauer, PhD, AdvAPD, Associate Professor, School of Human Movement and Nutritional Sciences University of Queensland, St. Lucia explains. , Queensland, Australia. “Future research may clarify the role of fiber in the therapeutic setting and the role of nutritionists and dietetics in the delivery of specific nutritional counseling.”