The Prevalence of Sarcopenic Obesity in Postmenopausal Women with a History of Breast Cancer Depending on Adopted Methodology - A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is characterized as the cooccurrence of sarcopenia and obesity. It is associated with many adverse health consequences, also in oncological patients. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of SO in postmenopausal women with a history of breast cancer depending on adopted methodology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The case-control study enrolled 103 women over the age of 50 with a history of breast cancer, including women who completed oncological treatment and had remained in remission for at least 5 years (group I, n=78) and women in whom the disease recurred (group II, n=25). The control group included women with no history of breast cancer (group III, n=73). RESULTS: In group II sarcopenia occurred significantly more commonly compared to both group I and the control group (for the skeletal muscle index (SMI) ≤29.20%: 13 (52%) in group II vs 16 (20.5%) in group I, p=0.004 and 3 (4.1%) in group III, p<0.001; for SMI ≤26.60%: 10 (40%) in group II vs 9 (11.5%) in group I, p=0.003 and 3 (4.1%) in group III, p<0.001; for SMI ≤33.87%: 17 (68%) in group II vs 21 (26.9%) in group I, p<0.001 and 5 (6.8%) in group III, p<0.001). Depending on the assessment criteria, SO was diagnosed in 0-11.5% of cases in group I, 0-40% of cases in group II and 0-4.1% in the control group. Intergroup differences were not statistically significant, irrespective of the adopted pair of diagnostic criteria. The highest detectability of SO was observed when SMI was combined with each of the diagnostic criteria for obesity used. DISCUSSION: SO diagnosis based on the percentage of fatty tissue mass in the body of >38% and SMI value were associated with a higher detection rate of SO in each study group, regardless of the adopted cut-off value. Similar results were obtained in each analyzed group when using the remaining diagnostic criteria for obesity and SMI value, regardless of the cut-off value.

Current and past adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research recommendations in survivors of breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer is the first in the structure of the incidence of neoplastic diseases in women, with the number of affected individuals becoming higher every year. The risk of breast cancer is influenced not only by genetic factors, but also by the lifestyle. Proper dietary habits, a high level of physical activity and normal body weight not only reduce the risk of developing a primary neoplastic lesion, but also a recurrence. In 2007 the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) published their recommendations concerning lifestyle in the prophylaxis of neoplasms. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess whether the adherence to WCRF/AICR recommendations influenced the risk of developing breast cancer in women. Materials and methods: A case control study included 108 women aged over 50 with a history of breast cancer. The study group was divided into two subgroups: women who completed oncological treatment and experienced no recurrences for at least 5 years (group I, n=82) and women who had a recurrence (group II, n=26). The control group included women with no history of breast cancer (n=74). The adherence of lifestyle was assessed by assigning points for 8 WCRF/AICR recommendations. The results were compared in the study and control groups, both in all participants and separately in those who declared no changes in dietary habits after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Results: The adherence of lifestyle to WCRF/AICR recommendations was significantly lower in the group of women with a history of cancer compared to the control group. It was reported both in the study group as a whole (5.5 ± 1.34 vs 6.4 ± 1.48 points) and in those who declared no changes in dietary habits after being diagnosed with breast cancer (5.3 ± 1.24 vs 6.6 ± 1.38 points). The differences in the lifestyles of the participants with breast cancer and those in the control group were associated predominantly with the adherence to recommendations concerning appropriate physical activity, avoiding the consumption of sweetened drinks and limiting the consumption of processed and red meat. Conclusions: The results of the study confirmed the benefits of complying with WCRF/AICR recommendations in the prevention of breast cancer.

Dietary practices and nutritional status in survivors of breast cancer

Background: Wrong dietary practices and excessive body mass may not only influence the risk of primary breast cancer but also the risk of its recurrence. Objective: Evaluation of dietary practices and identification of nutritional factors which may influence the risk of tumor recurrence in women with prior breast cancer. Materials and methods: The case-control study involved 108 women aged 50 years and older with history of breast cancer who were divided into two categories: women after completed cancer treatment with no recurrence for minimum 5 years (group I, n=82) and women with diagnosed breast cancer recurrence (group II, n=26). A control group (n=74) constituted of subjects with no breast cancer diagnosis. In every subject anthropometric measurements were taken and dietary practices were evaluated by means of an original questionnaire. Results: Average BMI and hip circumference values were higher in the group II than in the group I. In both study groups the percentage of high WHR values was significantly higher than in the control group. Women with history of cancer consumed significantly fewer vegetable and fruit and more refined cereals, dairy products, meat and cold cuts than women in the control group. Group I responders more often declared implementation and maintenance of changes in their diet after diagnosis of cancer than women from group II. Subjects with cancer history consumed more alcohol and more often used supplements than females in the control group. Conclusion: Avoiding overweight and obesity along with following the principles of a healthy diet seems to reduce the risk of both breast cancer incidence and its recurrence.