Adipocytokine plasma level changes in a 24-month dietary and physical activity randomised intervention trial in postmenopausal women.

Background: Adipocytokines are signaling molecules secreted by adipose tissue contributing to the control of body fat, energy expenditure and secretion of insulin and cytokines. They have been related to the development of obesity, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Diet and physical activity (PA) may have beneficial effects on their level.

The DAMA25 Study: Feasibility of a Lifestyle Intervention Programme for Cancer Risk Reduction in Young Italian Women with Breast Cancer Family History.

Background: Diet and physical activity (PA) can modulate sporadic and possibly familial breast cancer (BC) risk. The DAMA25 study is a single-arm 12-month intervention aimed to modify dietary and PA habits in healthy young Italian women with a positive BC family history, categorized as having intermediate or high genetic risk according to NICE (National Institute for Health and Cancer Excellence) guidelines.

Methods: Participants, aged 25-49 years, were asked to adopt a diet mainly based on plant-based foods and to increase moderate daily activities combined with 1 h/week of more intense activity.

Inflammatory marker changes in a 24-month dietary and physical activity randomised intervention trial in postmenopausal women.

Chronic low-grade inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases including cancer. Physical activity (PA) and diet have been supposed to modulate inflammatory markers. We evaluated the effects of a 24-month dietary and/or PA intervention on plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, a secondary analysis in the DAMA factorial trial.

Time Course and Determinants of Individual Motivation among Women Enrolled in a Diet and Physical Activity Primary Prevention Trial.

We studied the determinants of motivation among post-menopausal women enrolled in a two-year diet and physical activity primary prevention randomized trial. Participants were requested to grade the importance attached to changing their lifestyle, their confidence about being able to implement the change, and their willingness to be involved in studies focusing on lifestyle. We used multi-adjusted regression to investigate the association between individual characteristics, study arm, and individual motivation at study entry and end.

Can Dietary and Physical Activity Modifications Reduce Breast Density in Postmenopausal Women? The DAMA Study, a Randomized Intervention Trial in Italy.

Background: Few randomized trials have been carried out to evaluate the effect of lifestyle modifications on mammographic breast density (MBD). The randomized 2 × 2 factorial Diet, physical Activity and MAmmography trial aimed to evaluate whether MBD can be reduced in postmenopausal women with high baseline MBD by a 24-month dietary and/or physical activity (PA) interventions.

Methods: We randomized healthy postmenopausal women, attending the Florence (Italy) mammographic screening program, ages 50 to 69 years, nonsmokers, with MBD > 50% and no recent hormone therapy, to (i) a dietary intervention focused on plant foods, with a low glycemic load, low in saturated fats and alcohol; (ii) a PA intervention combining daily moderate intensity activities and one weekly supervised session of more strenuous activity; (iii) both interventions; (iv) general recommendations.