Changes in Dietary Intake of Breast Cancer Survivors: Early Findings of a Malaysian Breast Cancer Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in post-diagnosis dietary intake of breast cancer survivors. A total of 112 participants from the Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivorship Cohort study with dietary intake at one-year post-diagnosis (T1) and three-year post-diagnosis (T2) were included. A three-day food record was used to assess the dietary intake of breast cancer survivors. The participants’ anthropometrical measurements were measured at both time points (n = 95). Notably, we found that around half of the participants were obese at both time points. Body weight and body mass index increased significantly between the two time points (P < 0.01). Most of the participants did not meet the Malaysian recommended nutrient intake for dietary fat, fiber, and calcium at both time points. The energy intake significantly decreased (from 1,596 kcal/day to 1,524 kcal/day, P = 0.028) within the survivors. Significant decreases were observed in the overall intakes of carbohydrates, total sugar, protein, fiber, and calcium (P < 0.05). Overall, many Malaysian breast cancer survivors remained overweight or obese and had suboptimal dietary intake even at three years post-diagnosis. These require more proactive dietary intervention with continuous monitoring and evaluation among breast cancer survivors for their survivorship care.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Research Involving Human Participants

The MyBCC study is a prospective observational study that has been conducted according to regulations for research involving data of human participants. It has been approved by the University Malaya Medical Center Medical Research Ethics Committee (formerly knowns as Medical Ethics Committee), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (MEC no. 896.150). All participants have provided written informed consent prior to their enrollment in the study.

Additional information

Funding

The MyBCC study was supported by a High Impact Research Grant (UM.C/HIR/MOHE/06) from the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, and jointly funded for the research assistantship by the UMCares project (RU013-2017O) from the University of Malaya, Malaysia.