Dramatic dietary fat reduction is feasible for breast cancer patients: Results of the randomised study, WINS (UK) – Stage 1

IntroductionThe influence of dietary fat on breast tumour growth1 and, more recently, on treatment outcomes,2 and 3 suggests an important role for dietary advice in the future health of breast cancer patients. The Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (UK) – Stage 1 assessed the feasibility of achieving and maintaining a ≥50% reduction in reported fat intake in postmenopausal, early stage breast cancer patients in the UK.MethodThis study recruited patients in South-east England between 2000 and 2005. They were randomly allocated into two groups. Group 1 (n = 54), received specific dietary counselling to halve their reported fat intake and maintain this low fat intake. Group 2 (n = 53) received healthy eating advice only. Dietitian-led group sessions provided support for women in both groups over 2 years. 4 Validated four-day diaries were used to measure intake. Data analysis used Generalised Linear Model (GLM) for repeated measures and logistic regression.ResultsA significantly greater proportion of women in Group 1 reported a fat intake reduction of ≥50% at 3 months (p < .001) and 24 months (p < .001) than in Group 2. The size of the effect of active dietary counselling was 37% at 3 months (95%CI: 21–54%) and 35% at 24 months (95%CI: 17–53%). Mean fat intake was halved at 3 months and 24 months in Group 1 only.ConclusionDemonstrating such feasibility is a key step towards defining diet’s role in the secondary prevention of breast cancer.