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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2017 Jan;161(2):299-310.
doi: 10.1007/s10549-016-4070-y. Epub 2016 Dec 2.

Fatigue reduction diet in breast cancer survivors: a pilot randomized clinical trial

Suzanna Maria Zick  1   2 , Justin Colacino  3   4 , Maria Cornellier  5 , Tohfa Khabir  5 , Katie Surnow  6 , Zora Djuric  5   7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Fatigue reduction diet in breast cancer survivors: a pilot randomized clinical trial

Suzanna Maria Zick et al. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Fatigue is a prevalent and burdensome effect of breast cancer. Fatigue has been linked to chronic inflammation, and diets high in antioxidant nutrients have been associated with lesser prevalence and severity of fatigue. Studies are needed, however, to test if antioxidant-rich diets could improve fatigue.

Methods: Pilot, randomized, trial conducted between January 2014 and April 2015, to investigate if a 3-month diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods, named the fatigue reduction diet (FRD), improved fatigue and sleep compared to an attention control, named the general health curriculum (GHC). 30 stage 0 to III breast cancer survivors, who had completed cancer treatments, were randomized: 15 receiving the FRD and 15 the GHC. Primary outcome was change in fatigue, as measured by the brief fatigue Inventory, from baseline to 3 months analyzed using linear mixed models. Secondary analyses were changes in sleep quality, serum carotenoids, and fatty acids.

Results: From baseline to 3-month fatigue improved by 44 ± 39% in FRD compared to 8 ± 34% in GHC (p = 0.01); sleep quality improved by 2.5 ± 3.3 points in FRD, and diminished by 0.9 ± 2.3 in GHC (p = 0.03); serum total carotenoids (p < 0.01), β-cryptoxanthin (p = 0.02), lutein (p = 0.05), zeaxanthin (p = 0.01), lycopene (p = 0.05), omega-3 fatty acids (p < 0.01), and ratio of omega-3:omega-6 fatty acids (p = 0.02) were significantly increased, and percent saturated fatty acids were decreased (p = 0.04) in FRD; γ-tocopherol was significantly increased in GHC (p = 0.03), and there was a significant visit by group difference for α-carotene between the study groups (p = 0.05).

Conclusions: The FRD intervention improved fatigue and sleep in breast cancer survivors compared to the GHC. FRD diet could provide a non-toxic treatment strategy for persistent fatigue.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01902745.

Keywords: Breast cancer survivor; Cancer-related fatigue; Carotenoids; Diet, omega-3 fatty acids; Fruits; Sleep quality; Vegetables; Whole grains.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest Drs. Zick, Djuric and Colacino and Ms. Cornellier, Surnow and Khabir declare that they have neither financial nor non-financial competing interest to disclose nor do they have any conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Consort flow diagram BCRT
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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