High Fruit, Veggie Diet Doesnt Affect Breast Cancer Recurrence

CHICAGO—Women with early stage breast cancer on a diet very high in vegetables, fruit and fiber, and low in fat, did not have a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence than women who followed a diet of five or more servings a day of fruit and vegetables (the “5-A-Day” diet), according to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2007, 298(3):289-98). The study aimed to assess whether very high intake of vegetables, fruit, and fiber reduced the risks of recurrent and new primary breast cancer and all-cause death among women with previously treated early stage breast cancer. The randomized, controlled trial included 3,088 women previously treated for early stage breast cancer (18 to 70 years old at diagnosis). The intervention group was randomly assigned to receive a telephone counseling program supplemented with cooking classes and newsletters that promoted daily targets of five vegetable servings plus 16 oz. of vegetable juice; three fruit servings; 30 g of fiber; and 15 percent to 20 percent of energy intake from fat. The comparison group was given print materials describing the “5-A-Day” dietary guidelines. Throughout the study, women in both groups received similar clinical care. During the study, 518 participants had a breast cancer event, including 256 participants (16.7 percent) in the intervention group and 262 participants (16.9 percent) in the comparison group. There were 315 deaths reported within the study period, with 155 (10.1 percent) in the intervention group and 160 (10.3 percent) in the comparison group. More than 80 percent of all deaths were due to breast cancer. During an average 7.3-year follow-up, the researchers found no evidence that very high dietary intake of vegetables, fruit, and fiber and low fat intake prevented breast cancer recurrence or death among women with previously treated early stage breast cancer more than a 5-A-Day fruit and vegetable diet.