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Dietary intervention among breast cancer survivors increased adherence to a Mediterranean-style, anti-inflammatory dietary pattern: the Rx for Better Breast Health Randomized Controlled Trial

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Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this education and culinary-based dietary intervention was to increase adherence to a Mediterranean-style, anti-inflammatory dietary pattern in breast cancer survivors (BCS) by promoting the consumption of anti-inflammatory foods, herbs, and spices.

Methods

Overweight and obese, early-stage, BCS were randomized to the Intervention (n = 76) or Control (n = 77). The 6-month intervention included monthly nutrition and cooking workshops, Motivational Interviewing telephone calls, and individualized newsletters. Control participants received monthly informational brochures and no navigational services. Dietary intakes were collected via questionnaire and 3-day food records at baseline and 6 months.

Results

One hundred twenty-five BCS (n = 60 I; n = 65 C) completed post-testing (81.7%) and were included in analyses. Adherence to Mediterranean diet guidelines significantly increased in the intervention group, but not in the control group (+ 22.5% vs. + 2.7%, P < 0.001). Upon further analysis of adherence to individual dietary guidelines, the intervention group significantly improved adherence to only three guidelines: consuming ≥ 3 servings of fish or shellfish/week, reducing red meat intake to < 1 serving/day, and limiting consumption of commercial sweets and baked goods to < 3 times/week. The intervention arm increased the use of spices and herbs compared to control (+ 146.2% vs. +33.3%, P < 0.001), including significantly more frequent consumption of cinnamon, turmeric, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and rosemary.

Conclusion

An education and culinary-based intervention in BCS successfully increased adherence to a more Mediterranean-style, anti-inflammatory dietary pattern by increasing the consumption of anti-inflammatory foods, spices, and herbs and decreasing the consumption of pro-inflammatory foods.

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Data availability

The datasets during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Iverson Brownell for creating and conducting cooking demonstrations for intervention participants and providing input on AI ingredients for participant recipe book.

Funding

This research was supported by Susan G. Komen (SAB08-0005); Redes en Accion: The National Latino Cancer Research Network (U54CA153511); the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio; and the UT Health San Antonio Mays Cancer Center through the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA054174).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Nutrition and Foods, Texas State University, San Marcos, USA

    Krystle E. Zuniga

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute for Health Promotion Research, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, USA

    Dorothy Long Parma, Edgar Muñoz, Mackenzie Spaniol & Amelie G. Ramirez

  3. Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, USA

    Michael Wargovich

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  1. Krystle E. Zuniga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Krystle E. Zuniga.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments.

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Zuniga, K.E., Parma, D.L., Muñoz, E. et al. Dietary intervention among breast cancer survivors increased adherence to a Mediterranean-style, anti-inflammatory dietary pattern: the Rx for Better Breast Health Randomized Controlled Trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat 173, 145–154 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-018-4982-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-018-4982-9

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