P161 NUTRITIONAL RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER: EXCESS BODY FAT AND SCARCE FUNCTIONAL NUTRIENT INTAKE

Rationale: Obesity, excess body fat & adult weight gain, along with high saturated fat intake are acknowledged risk factors for breast cancer. Recent data suggested an inverse association between phytoestrogen intake & breast cancer incidence. This cross sectional study aimed to assess nutritional status, focusing on body fat, and to characterise the usual food intake in a cohort of breast cancer patients. Methods: During 2006, 71 consecutive women were evaluated: a SECA® floor scale+stadiometer was used to determine weight (kg)/height (m), BMI was calculated and categorized (WHO criteria); mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness & waist circumference were measured and used to calculate %body fat; food intake was estimated by a validated 1-year Food Frequency Questionnaire. Frequency analysis was used to evaluate prevalences; Mann Whitney U test assessed associations. Results: Mean age was 60±12 (36 90) yrs. Ductal invasive carcinoma was the most frequent (68%), p < 0.05. Most patients were in stage I (30%) or stage IIA (25%) of disease vs IIB (10%), IIIB (4%), IV (4%) or others (21%), p < 0.05. The majority of pts, 58 (82%) were overweight/obese, p < 0.001; 17 (24%) had a %body fat mass 30% & <35%, 46 (65%) had 35% of body fat vs only 8 (11%) with %body fat within normal range (p < 0.002). Moreover, 44 (62%) pts had a waist circumference higher then the maximum cut-off value of 88 cm and 43 (61%) pts had gained weight after diagnosis, p < 0.01. The dietary pattern indicated a low intake of vegetables and wholegrain cereals rich in complex carbohydrates (sources of fibre and phytoestrogens), and of fatty fish & nuts primary sources of n-3 PUFA’s. Conclusion: Our study firstly shows in the same cohort of breast cancer pts a vast prevalence & homogeneous pattern of overweight/obesity, excess body/abdominal fat & weight gain after diagnosis combined with a poor diet deficient in protective nutrients: e.g. phytoestrogens, fibre and n-3.