Nutr Res Pract.  2007 Sep;1(3):237-242.

Comparisons of food intake between breast cancer patients and controls in Korean women

• Kim EY
• Hong YS
• Jeon HM
• Sung MK
• Sung CJ

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare food intakes between Korean breast cancer patients and a healthy control group. We compared the intake of nutrients of 117 food items between Korean breast cancer patients (n=97) and age matched healthy controls (n=97). Nutrient intake was estimated using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The mean caloric intake of breast cancer patients and healthy controls was not significantly different. Breast cancer patients consumed significantly less fat and antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin A, retinol, beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E when compared to the control subjects. Among the food items, the intake of eggs (p<0.01), legumes (p<0.05), vegetables (p<0.05), seasonings (p<0.001), and oils and fats (p<0.01) in breast cancer patients was significantly lower than that in the controls. These results suggest that Korean breast cancer patients consumed less amount of soy and vegetables, which are rich source of antioxidant nutrients and phytosterols. Thus, dietary guidance to increase intake of these foods may be beneficial in the prevention of breast cancer.

Keyword

Breast cancer; fat; antioxidant vitamin; vegetable; soy

MeSH Terms

Ascorbic Acid
beta Carotene
Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Eating*
Eggs
Energy Intake
Fabaceae
Fats
Female
Humans
Oils
Ovum
Phytosterols
Surveys and Questionnaires
Seasons
Vegetables
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Vitamins
Ascorbic Acid
Fats
Oils
Phytosterols
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Vitamins
beta Carotene

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Food intakes from each food group in patients with breast cancer (■) and their age-matched controls (□). *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001

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