Effect of dietary patterns differing in carbohydrate and fat content on blood lipid and glucose profiles based on weight-loss success of breast-cancer survivors.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet versus a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet on weight loss and cardiovascular risk biomarkers in breast cancer survivors.
Results Summary
The study found no adverse effects on fasting blood lipids or glucose in either diet group. Weight loss led to beneficial effects on cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, with some differences in biomarker responses between the two diets (e.g., greater triglyceride reduction in the low-carbohydrate group).
Population
Women who completed treatment for breast cancer.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (menu and recipe-defined dietary patterns).
Duration
6 months.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
weight loss achieved by using high fat, low carbohydrate dietary pattern | no change | fasting blood lipids or glucose | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | no significant change | Adverse effects on fasting blood lipids or glucose were not observed | #1 |
weight loss achieved by using low fat, high carbohydrate dietary pattern | no change | fasting blood lipids or glucose | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | no significant change | Adverse effects on fasting blood lipids or glucose were not observed | #2 |
progressive weight loss | decrease | fasting glucose | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | - | A decrease in fasting glucose was observed | #3 |
weight loss | decrease | cholesterol | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | 4.7% | Beneficial effects on cholesterol were observed | #4 |
weight loss | decrease | triglycerides | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | 21.8% | Beneficial effects on triglycerides were observed | #5 |
weight loss | decrease | low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | 5.8% | Beneficial effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were observed | #6 |
low-fat diet pattern | decrease | cholesterol | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | - | greater reduction trends were seen for cholesterol | #7 |
low-fat diet pattern | decrease | LDL cholesterol | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | - | greater reduction trends were seen for LDL cholesterol | #8 |
low-carbohydrate diet pattern | decrease | triglycerides | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | - | a decrease was greater for triglycerides | #9 |
low-carbohydrate diet pattern | increase | high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol | Women who completed treatment for breast cancer | - | an increase was greater for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol | #10 |
INTRODUCTION: Healthy body weight is an important factor for prevention of breast cancer recurrence. Yet, weight loss and weight gain are not currently included in clinical-practice guidelines for posttreatment of breast cancer. The work reported addresses one of the questions that must be considered in recommending weight loss to patients: does it matter what diet plan is used, a question of particular importance because breast cancer treatment can increase risk for cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Women who completed treatment for breast cancer were enrolled in a nonrandomized, controlled study investigating effects of weight loss achieved by using two dietary patterns at the extremes of macronutrient composition, although both diet arms were equivalent in protein: high fat, low carbohydrate versus low fat, high carbohydrate. A nonintervention group served as the control arm; women were assigned to intervention arms based on dietary preferences. During the 6-month weight-loss program, which was menu and recipe defined, participants had monthly clinical visits at which anthropometric data were collected and fasting blood was obtained for safety monitoring for plasma lipid profiles and fasting glucose. Results from 142 participants are reported. RESULTS: Adverse effects on fasting blood lipids or glucose were not observed in either dietary arm. A decrease in fasting glucose was observed with progressive weight loss and was greater in participants who lost more weight, but the effect was not statistically significant, even though it was observed across both diet groups (P = 0.21). Beneficial effects of weight loss on cholesterol (4.7%; P = 0.001), triglycerides (21.8%; P = 0.01), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (5.8%; P = 0.06) were observed in both groups. For cholesterol (P = 0.07) and LDL cholesterol (P = 0.13), greater reduction trends were seen on the low-fat diet pattern; whereas, for triglycerides (P = 0.01) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P = 0.08), a decrease or increase, respectively, was greater on the low-carbohydrate diet pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Because an individual's dietary preferences can affect dietary adherence and weight-loss success, the lack of evidence of a negative effect of dietary pattern on biomarkers associated with cardiovascular risk is an important consideration in the development of breast cancer practice guidelines for physicians who recommend that their patients lose weight. Whether dietary pattern affects biomarkers that predict long-term survival is a primary question in this ongoing clinical trial.