Postdiagnostic Dietary Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, Dietary Insulin Index, and Insulin Load and Breast Cancer Survival

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Feb;30(2):335-343. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-0764. Epub 2020 Nov 20.

Abstract

Background: We investigated the associations of postdiagnostic dietary glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), insulin index (II), and insulin load (IL) with breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality.

Methods: Among 8,932 women with stage I-III breast cancer identified in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS; 1980-2010) and NHSII (1991-2011), we prospectively evaluated the associations between postdiagnostic GI, GL, II, and IL, and breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. Participants completed a validated food frequency questionnaire every 4 years after diagnosis.

Results: During follow-up by 2014 in the NHS and 2015 in the NHSII, 2,523 deaths, including 1,071 from breast cancer, were documented. Higher postdiagnostic GL was associated with higher risk of both breast cancer-specific mortality [HRQ5vsQ1 = 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-1.63; P trend = 0.008] and all-cause mortality (HRQ5vsQ1 = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.10-1.45; P trend = 0.0006). Higher all-cause mortality was also observed with higher postdiagnostic GI (HRQ5vsQ1 = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.08-1.40; P trend = 0.001), II (HRQ5vsQ1 = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.04-1.38; P trend = 0.005), and IL (HRQ5vsQ1 = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.07-1.42; P trend = 0.0003). The associations were not modified by insulin receptor or estrogen receptor status of the tumor, or body mass index.

Conclusions: We found that higher dietary GL, reflecting postprandial glucose response, after a breast cancer diagnosis was associated with higher risk of breast cancer-specific mortality. Higher dietary GI, GL, II, and IL after a breast cancer diagnosis were associated with higher risk of death from any cause.

Impact: These results suggest that carbohydrate quantity and quality may be important in breast cancer prognosis.See related commentary by McTiernan, p. 252.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose
  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Diet
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Female
  • Glycemic Index
  • Glycemic Load*
  • Humans
  • Insulin
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Insulin