Diet and breast cancer recurrence risk: the promising impact of controlled diets

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, and recurrence remains a major concern for healthcare professionals. Despite significant advancements in treatment, research continues to explore new strategies to prevent disease recurrence. Among these strategies, dietary impact is gaining growing interest. Recent studies suggest that dietary adjustments may influence survival and reduce the risk of recurrence in breast cancer patients.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a diet intervention based on a Mediterranean diet enriched with macrobiotic elements in preventing breast cancer recurrence in high-risk patients.

What are the Effects of a Macro-Mediterranean Diet on Breast Cancer Recurrence Risks?

The DIANA-5 study is a randomized controlled trial conducted with 1,542 women. These women, treated for stage I to III breast cancer, were at high risk of recurrence due to metabolic conditions such as hyperinsulinemia and elevated testosterone levels. They were divided into two groups:

• Intervention Group: This group received dietary recommendations based on the "macro-Mediterranean" diet (focused on whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fish), as well as support to put these recommendations into practice (cooking classes, community meals, etc.).
• Control Group: This group received general cancer prevention guidelines.

After five years, results showed no significant difference in cancer recurrence rates between the groups. However, data analysis based on dietary compliance (glycemic index and glycemic load combined) revealed that women who made the most dietary changes had a 41% lower risk of breast cancer recurrence compared to those who made the fewest dietary changes. Dietary modifications also led to significant improvements in certain metabolic parameters, such as blood glucose and triglyceride levels.

Breast Cancer Recurrence: When a Controlled Diet Can Make a Difference

The study’s results did not confirm that an overall dietary modification based on a Mediterranean and macrobiotic diet can reduce breast cancer recurrence risk in at-risk patients. However, the findings underscore the importance of a controlled diet in reducing breast cancer-associated metabolic risk factors and recurrence. Building on these observations, further research is needed to clarify the impact of diet on breast cancer recurrence and to develop more effective and sustainable dietary strategies for relapse prevention.