title: A culturally specific dietary plan to manage weight gain among African American breast cancer survivors: a feasibility study.
abstract: Breast cancer survival rates are lower in African Americans (AAs) than in Caucasians, owing in part to a higher prevalence of obesity in the former, which increases the risk of recurrence and mortality. The Women's Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS) found that Caucasian women who followed a low-fat eating plan experienced a lower rate of cancer recurrence than women who maintained their usual diets. The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of a WINS plan tailored to the cultural needs of AA breast cancer survivors. This feasibility pilot study was conducted at a university National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center outpatient clinic with AA breast cancer survivors. The culturally specific WINS (WINS-c) plan included eight individual counseling sessions, five educational group meetings, and follow-up telephone calls over a 1-year period. Outcome measures included dietary fat, triglyceride, insulin and glucose levels, and fruit and vegetable intake. Participants (n = 8) had a mean age of 61.1 years (standard error of the mean (SEM) 3.1 years) and a mean BMI of 32 kg/m(2) (SEM 4.25 kg/m)(2). Baseline daily fat consumption decreased from 64.6 g (range 36.8-119.6g) to 44.0 g (21.6-73.4g) at 52 weeks (p = 0.07). Mean daily consumption of fruits and vegetables increased by 36% and 15%, respectively. Mean triglyceride levels decreased at 12 months (p < 0.05). Sustained hyperinsulinemia was noted in most participants, including those without diabetes. Mean calcium and vitamin D consumption decreased over the 1-year study period. In AA breast cancer survivors, the WINS-c program resulted in a trend toward reduced fat consumption and may represent a sustainable approach in this population for improvement of diet quality after breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA. griffith@son.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Renee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Royak-Schaler
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nesbitt
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Adriane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kozlovsky
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelser
authors.forename: Katherine H Rak
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tkaczuk
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D003469:Culture; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted / Q000379:methods*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D017741:Survivors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014675:Vegetables; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides