Adjuvant diet to improve hormonal and metabolic factors affecting breast cancer prognosis.

Western lifestyle, characterized by reduced physical activity and a diet rich in fat, refined carbohydrates, and animal protein is associated with high prevalence of overweight, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and high plasma levels of several growth factors and sex hormones. Most of these factors are associated with breast cancer risk and, in breast cancer patients, with increased risk of recurrences. Recent trials have proven that such a metabolic and endocrine imbalance can be favorably modified through comprehensive dietary modification, shifting from Western to Mediterranean and macrobiotic diet.

Metabolic syndrome as a prognostic factor for breast cancer recurrences.

Several studies have shown that hormonal, metabolic and inflammatory mechanisms may affect breast cancer progression. We tested the prognostic value of metabolic syndrome in 110 postmenopausal breast cancer patients, who participated in a 1-year dietary intervention study. The risk of adverse events after 5.