[Nutrition patterns in German breast cancer patients]

Abstract

Background: Several studies could demonstrate an association between nutrition and the risk of breast cancer.

Patients and methods: In this study we examined the daily diet of German patients with breast cancer approximately 12 months after diagnosis. In a prospective trial nutritional habits were evaluated in 165 breast cancer patients on admittance to an inpatient medical rehabilitation program.

Results: The results of this survey show that patients with breast cancer report on a nutritional pattern which is characterised by a (very) low consumption of grains, vegetables, fruits und fish and a high consumption of meat and processed meat. Due to epidemiological data, it may be hypothesized that the patients' diet might have contributed to the development of their disease.

Conclusion: Our results underscore the need for nutritional counselling of breast cancer patients, as they show a relatively unfavourable nutrition pattern which differs from currently available advice. An inpatient rehabilitation programme could be an adequate starting point for this purpose.